BY CHARLES KUMOLU

CHAIRMAN of Warri South Local Government Area, Mr. Michael Tidi has said that the eventual  outcome of the forthcoming Warri Economic Summit would revive maritime industry in the city.

He also said the forum would be an avenue to identify key sectors where Warri would excel with a view to optimising the opportunities in such sectors.

Tidi, who said this in an exclusive chat with Vanguard, said the event being convened by the LGA is aimed at making Warri a business destination.

His words:” We  have the Warri port, we have several oil and gas servicing firms, we have a Warri Refinery and a whole lot of other businesses. We have the enterprising people of Warri.

“It is in this vein that Warri South Local Government is opening its arms to businesses in and around Warri that would  partner with the Warri Economic Summit Group to initiate the first ever Warri Economic Summit.

“Warri needs to regain her pride as a business hub in Nigeria and West Africa. Warri began trading with Europe more than 500 years ago ( that is 40 years before the discovery of America) and has done so continuously.

“In the history of her long business relationships with the outside world, there have been ebbs and tides depending on how the people of Warri took advantage of the opportunities that nature bestowed upon them. Every time the people of Warri realised their potential and rose to the occasion, surrounding cities have benefitted.

“The time has come for Warri to take its destiny in its hands, and the Warri Economic Summit provides the perfect opportunity.

“The 2-day star studded event will not just be a talk shop alone. Yes we need to have a conversation about business conditions in Warri but that is not the singular purpose of this event. We want to achieve two major outcomes. First is to identify a few key sectors where Warri can be a leading name in three years. Second, we want to identify what can be done to revive maritime trade in Warri in 6 months. If we can define a road map to achieve these goals at the end of the summit, we would have done very well.

“Beyond that, we must intensify efforts to implement whatever road map the business leaders of Warri draw for us.

“The youths are not left out. The goal of all these efforts is to provide employment for our teeming and ever resourceful youths. I, will, therefore, use this medium to call on our youths to cooperate with both government and businesses to put Warri back on the map as a business destination.”