Bakassi Deep Sea Port to Expand Opportunities for Small Businesses – CALCCIMA
By Ekanem ASUQUO
The Calabar Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture has said the proposed Bakassi Deep Sea Port will significantly expand business opportunities for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises in Cross River State and surrounding areas.
The Vice President for MSME and Business Development at CALCCIMA, Mr Liyel Imoukhuede, said the port’s location along the Gulf of Guinea places it on one of the busiest global shipping routes, making it a strategic driver of trade and enterprise growth.
He explained that increased vessel traffic and cargo volumes expected from the port would create new openings for local businesses to participate in logistics and port related activities.
Imoukhuede identified haulage and trucking, warehousing and storage, clearing and forwarding, as well as packaging and labelling as key sectors where MSMEs can thrive. He added that demand would also rise for support services such as food and catering, security and cleaning, equipment supply and maintenance, and information and communication technology services.
According to him, the port will further stimulate trade and export oriented businesses, including agro produce aggregation and export, processing and value addition, cold chain and seafood enterprises, alongside import distribution and retail.
The CALCCIMA official urged business owners to begin preparations by formalising their operations through registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, obtaining tax identification numbers and maintaining tax compliance.
He also stressed the need for capacity building, advising entrepreneurs to acquire basic knowledge of logistics and trade procedures, understand export standards and documentation, and adopt proper accounting and record keeping practices.
Imoukhuede encouraged MSMEs to form cooperatives and clusters, noting that collaboration and pooling of resources would improve their ability to secure larger contracts and investment.
He said CALCCIMA would support MSMEs by identifying businesses ready for port related opportunities, providing training and mentorship on compliance and quality standards, and linking them with relevant government agencies, financial institutions and major investors.
Imoukhuede noted that the successful development of the Bakassi Deep Sea Port would enable local enterprises to participate in global trade, create employment for young people and position Cross River State as a major hub for commerce and enterprise.
He emphasised that the benefits of the port would not be limited to large corporations but would also extend to transporters, farmers, processors, service providers and entrepreneurs who prepare early to take advantage of the opportunities.
