The Ebonyi State Government has wooed investors to the state with an enticing business environment to guarantee profitability and their business growth.
Chief Oguzorkanu Offia-Nwali, state commissioner for commerce, industry, and business development, highlighted the package for investors during the Ebonyi State Special Day at the 35th Enugu International Trade Fair on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fair, which began on April 5, is themed “Promoting made-in-Nigeria products for global competitiveness.”
Offia-Nwali said the serene business environment, which had been luring investors into the state, included the government’s commitment to providing access to good roads, electricity, and even water to production sites for genuine investors.
“The business environment in the state is so serene that investors troop in to discuss the establishment of multinational industries in various economic sectors.
“As a government, we do not joke with genuine and serious investors, as we provide virtually everything to make them comfortable and kick off production of goods and services without hitches.”
Offia-Nwali said the government had made an impact in trade, investment, human capital development, health, water and sanitation, energy, and others through public reforms.
He said a conducive environment had been created for businesses, and the Ebonyi State building material market is undergoing total revitalization.
The commissioner added that the Ebonyi Pipe Industry, which had stopped production for over 10 years, was revitalised, worker salaries were increased, and 1,500 youths were recently employed in the state civil service.
“On pensioners, arrears of gratuities and death benefits from 2009–2022 have been paid fully.
“On education, postgraduate students (Masters and Ph.D. Accounting and Aeronautic Engineering) were offered scholarships to study abroad, while law students were sponsored to law school with N350,000 each.
“Over 1000 students were also awarded scholarships to pursue Masters programmes in Nigeria. Non-indigenes were also awarded educational scholarships,” he said.
The commissioner noted that Ebonyi State came to the fair well-prepared, with a lot of locally produced goods to showcase.
The wares include Ebonyi pipe, famous Ebonyi rice, palm oil, cassava, and fertilizer.
Earlier, the President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Chief Odeiga Jideonwo, called on investors, both local and foreign, to prospect Ebonyi State for business opportunities.
“Ebonyi is blessed with many solid minerals and arable land for agriculture and agro-allied industries,” Jideonwo said.
According to him, since the inception of Ebonyi State, it has produced visionary leaders who have elevated the bar of leadership of the state to a higher level, and for this reason, investors should help to advance Ebonyi further.
“We doff our hats for this great state of Ebonyi, and we are calling on investors, both foreign and local, to prospect Ebonyi State for investment.
“There is no doubt that the state is blessed with many solid minerals and arable land for agriculture and agro-allied industries,” he said. (NAN)
