AMERICA INVESTORS, EMBASSY OFFICIALS SEEK PHCCIMA SUPPORT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S EB-5 INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
A delegation of investors from USA NOW Regional Centre and embassy officials from the United State of America, on Tuesday 15th of April 2013 paid a business visit to Port Harcourt chamber of commerce, industry, mines and agriculture, PHCCIMA with the aim of seeking investors for President Obama's EB-5 programme which has a lot to do with housing, job creation among others.
Head of the delegation, Mr. Marco A Ramirez of the USA Now Centre while speaking to the PHCCIMA, President, Engr. Emeka Unachukwu and members who turned out said the visit became imperative considering the good work PHCCIMA is doing and the strategic position the city of Port Harcourt occupies as the hub of oil and gas and the commercial nerve of Nigeria.
The interest according to him is to get business oriented persons who are willing to cash in on President Obama EB-5 programme in America to create jobs in America and thye country of the investor.
The EB-5 programme according to him was established to stimulate the U.S. economy by giving foreign entrepreneurs who invest in an American commercial enterprise the opportunity to permanently live and work in the United States and get similar investment in their home country.
Mr Ramirez explained that the visit was to seek the assistance of Port Harcourt chamber in getting her member companies, individuals and others to invest as much as N500,000 in America and get the benefit of a Green Card And Permanent Residency Permit.
The cash which he said is expected to be returned to the investor between 36 to 60 months is expected to create jobs in America and allow people to go back to work. It is also expected to use same in procurement of America raw materials and most importantly replicate same in the country of the investor with huge benefits. “This is indeed a mutually beneficial venture that shall create job and opportunities in both countries” he said..
In his remark, PHCCIMA President, Unachukwu said the investment initiative is phenomenal considering that it is backed by the US government. According to him, unlike other real estate investment who has visited the chamber, this EB-5 programme has been modeled to give something back in return in the form of Green card, permanent residency and excitingly housing in the country home of the investor. 'Essentially we are expected to invest cash in companies in the USA and use same to develop decent houses in Nigeria among other mutual benefits', he was quoted as saying.