OgunState government has stated that it would stop at nothing to position the State as the preferred destination for investors; not only in Nigeria but Africa as a whole.
Economic Adviser to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Mr. Rotimi Adewunmi, who stated this while speaking with newsmen in his office at Abeokuta, the State capital, said the Ibikunle Amosun Administration was fully ready to explore the abundant resources in the State and open it for business.
Adewunmi, who was flanked by the Special Adviser to the governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Femi Ogunsola and Senior Special Assistant on Trade and Investment, Mrs Adenike Aboderin,
said the government would use the forthcoming two-day investors’ forum scheduled to hold in Abeokuta on March 26 and 27 to sell its economic master plan to international investors.
He disclosed that the State government was particularly looking at investors from South East Asia and will also learn from Brazil in developing its housing sector. “What we are organising is not a summit where people come, talk and go but a summit where we can sell an economic master plan and do a follow-up after the forum,” Adewunmi said.
“We have recognised where our strength lies and we want to capitalise on those areas. We want to attract people who will invest in those areas as well as other big players into the State,” he added.
Special Adviser to the governor on Commerce and Industry, Ogunsola, said the State government was interested in developing the agriculture and agro-allied sector; mining, foundry, logistics and cottage industries.
“What we are trying to do is to create an enduring sustainable platform between the government of Ogun State, those who are investing here at the moment and those who will be coming in the future. Our plan is to position Ogun State as the preferred investment destination in Africa,” he said.
In her contribution, Senior Special Assistant on Trade and Investment, Aboderin, said research had shown that currently, Ogun State offers the best returns on investment.
She also noted that the office of Trade and Investment and the Bureau of Lands, Urban and Regional Planning are working hard to make the state an investor’s delight, especially with the One-Stop shop concept where all the papers needed by investors could be processed under one roof.
“Currently, research has shown that Ogun offers the best returns on investment. We therefore want to exploit this to woo investors into the State. We are not waiting until we have the entire infrastructure in place. We are starting by developing our roads and creating an environment that is conducive to business.
“A joint task force is in place to ensure security and what we offer investors are in tandem with global standards. The response to our call has been overwhelming as investors are really hungry to do business here,” she stated.
