Anambra's Governor Obiano signs a mutual agreement with New Jersey's City of Orange

ANAMBRA State's Governor Willie Obiano has signed a mutual relationship agreement with the City of Orange in the state of New Jersey in the US aimed at boosting cultural exchanges as well as sharing knowledge and enhancing investment.

At the landmark event held inside the City of Orange Municipal Building, Governor Obiano, signed the document on behalf of Anambra State, while Mayor Dwayne Warren signed for the township. Basically, the agreement seeks to foster interaction between Anambra and the City of Orange in the areas of cultural exchanges, knowledge sharing and investment, among other matters.

In a speech shortly before the agreement was signed, Governor Obiano described the ceremony as a historic moment not only for Anambra but also for the City of Orange. He said the state needed the city’s expertise and technology to exploit its abundant natural resources, with a guarantee of huge returns on investment.

Governor Obiano added: “Anambra is the 10th most populous state in Nigeria with a population of 6.5m people and a population density of 860 people per square kilometre. In the past five years, we have been Nigeria’s safest state with crime rate at the lowest in living memory, so it is no exaggeration to say that Anambra state is the best place to locate an industry in Nigeria at the moment.

“We have one of the highest literacy rates in the country and we offer access to the largest retail market in West Africa. We also have the largest crop of experienced middlemen and suppliers, with enough expertise to move goods across Africa.”

According to Governor Obiano, Anambra has easy access to industrial land, which has been mapped out. He said the state also had a speedy company registration process and the issuance of certificate of occupancy takes place in record time.

Mayor Dwayne said the agreement was about how the city and the state could partner culturally, economically and technologically to make life better for their communities. Located in the northeast of the US, the City of Orange is an industrial town of 30,134 people, located in Essex County, New Jersey.

“The City of Orange is happy for this day and we have talked about doing relationships with other countries and states abroad. When Anambra state came forward and had some interest in trying to exchange cultural ideas, it became something that we had to do.

“I am happy that the governor is here today and ecstatic that he came with dignitaries here today that can advance the cause of good governance and good society,” the mayor added. Governor Obiano's visit was facilitated by the City of Orange Diaspora Commission whose board is chaired by an Anambra indigene Callistus Onyiuke.