Anambra State has entered into discussions with African Export-Import Bank, Afreximbank, to seek the support of the trade finance institution for its effort to speed up the industrialisation and development of trade in the state.

A three-member delegation from the state, led by Ifeatu Onejeme, Commissioner for Finance, Industry, Innovations and Development Finance Institutions, which visited the Afreximbank headquarters in Cairo, yesterday, to start off the discussions, said Anambra was seeking the bank’s support to achieve enhanced economic development and industrialisation.

Mr. Onejeme told Afreximbank President, Dr. Benedict Oramah, that the state was pursuing key industrialisation programmes for which it needed the expertise and support of the bank for successful execution.

He listed the programmes to include establishment of a Diaspora crowd-funded bond, the development of industrial parks, the development of the state’s hospitality sector, in particular the Agulu Lake Resort, and public water works and reticulation.

Responding, President Oramah said the bank stood ready to support the economic development efforts of its member-states, including the constituent states, such as Anambra State.

He noted that with the large number of Anambra citizens in the Diaspora, the state should have no difficulty in attracting substantial remi-ttances to support a Diaspora crowd-funded bond.