Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara on Tuesday in Ilorin disclosed that he will issue an Executive Order for ease on doing business in the state.
AbdulRazaq stated this on Tuesday when he formally declared open the 8th Kwara Trade Fair in Ilorin.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KWACCIMA) organised the fair that drew members of the business community, who are currently displaying their wares.
AbdulRazaq said the plan of the present administration was to change the status of Kwara among its peers from being a civil service state to a state built on enterprise.
Speaking on the theme: “Trade Beyond Borders”, the governor said his administration was taking a cursory look at issues pertaining to ease of doing business and would soon roll out comprehensive reform for businesses to be stress free.
He said that his administration was preoccupied with building a state that survive on enterprise rather than waiting solely on handout from the federation account.
AbdulRazaq added that the government had invested in infrastructure and provide measures to stimulate the state’s economy which in turn was attracting investors.
According to him, no government can claim to have succeeded without the support of the private sector, and that his administration counts on the private sector to work collaboratively.
The governor commended the private sector owners in the state for creating jobs through their companies and factories.
“It is left to the government to create an environment to make them thrive in their respective endeavours.
“All issues associated with ease of doing business are being looked into, and very soon, we will roll out comprehensive reform to make doing business super and stress free in Kwara State.
“This will be contained in an Executive Order with some measures in this regard.
“As a government, our most important agenda is to build a state, which survives on enterprise with zero reliance on handout from the centre,” he said.
AbdulRazaq stated that for this reason, the government is investing in infrastructure and opening supportive measures to investors in business.
“In addition to our investment in visual and entertainment economy through the innovation hub and visual arts centre, we are also establishing an industrial park as well as construction of the International conference centre, which will also be an exhibition centre,” he added.
Hajia Fatimah Arinola, the state Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, noted that though trade fairs were held in the past, the eight edition was unique.
She explained that it was driven with the desires for innovation and exposure of the government with its moral and financial support to make it a befitting and qualitative trade of International standard.
She pledged that the fair would continue to be an annual programme.
Earlier in his welcome address, Mr Olalekan Fatai, the KWACCIMA President, commended the governor for moving public sector to private sector and called for the provision of the permanent trade fair stand so as to grow the state economy.
He noted that the state government had demonstrated its readiness to grow the state’s economy. (NAN)
