The Nortra Tractor Assembly Plant and Service Centre, an investment by the Danish company ODK Group, was inaugurated in Enugu City on Tuesday by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State.

In Nachi, Enugu State, a Chinese company founded the New-Watson Doors Industry, which the governor also put into operation.

Mbah stated that the Nortra Tractor Plant and Service Center’s building was a major step towards his administration’s goal of increasing the state’s GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

Our goal of having at least 1,000 tractors in Enugu State by the end of the year is undoubtedly closer thanks to the actions we have taken together today.

We have often stated that Enugu will be the top location for investment. But we came to the realisation that hoping for it won’t make it happen. Because of this, what we see here today is an example of Enugu State going above and beyond to entice investors. For this reason as well, we have ordered a minimum of 1,000 tractors, which we want to acquire through this assembly factory.

It would have been simpler for us to acquire 1,000 tractors, but we didn’t see the benefit of that,” he stated. For this reason, we are only receiving 200 pre-assembled and imported tractors. Here in Enugu, the remaining 800 will be put together.

“Once more, projects like the one we are undertaking with Nortra will boost our economy in addition to creating possibilities. They generate jobs for our citizens and accelerate the anticipated economic growth.

Mbah pledged to look for, recognise, and assist sincere investors who want to work with the state to achieve a $30 billion economy.

“We will keep working with Nortra to make sure we have the infrastructure, security, and basic amenities your investment needs to succeed,” he stated.

The ODK Group’s first investment destination in Africa was Enugu, according to Commissioner for Trade, Investment, and Industry Adaora Chukwu, who also noted earlier in her speech that the state’s agricultural output would be improved by the group’s expertise and reputation for producing innovative, high-quality agricultural machinery and equipment.

Patrick Ubru, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization, also called the project a significant advancement for the state’s agricultural sector.

The managing director of Nortra Tractors, Mr Philip Njoku, and the CEO of ODK Group Denmark, Mr Morten Anderson, said in their speeches that Enugu was selected as the initial entry point into Africa because they “identified Enugu State as a state that is thriving powerfully in terms of innovation, commercialisation, and everything you can think of in terms of development.”

When they met with him in 2023 to commission the New-Watson Doors Industry at Nachi, Mbah mentioned that the firm was still deciding which state to invest in. He praised them for their faith in the efforts his administration was doing to establish Enugu State as the top investment destination.

He reaffirmed the commitment of his government to keep lowering investment risk and assisting the state’s companies and investors.

Additionally, we have established a favourable atmosphere for investors to prosper. We will use the business, making sure that we don’t travel outside of Enugu State to acquire all we require for our 260 Type 2 and 260 Smart Green Schools.

Healthcare Centres and other large-scale initiatives that the state can supply,” he declared.

As a result, he encouraged more Chinese and international investors to visit Enugu and make investments.

Governor Mbah was congratulated by Chen Shando, the CEO of New-Watson, for “the massive support received from the government and the people of Enugu State” during his speech.