Gombe State best investment hub in N/East – Official
Mr Muhammad Magaji, the Gombe Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, said the state has provided best investment opportunities to investors due to its deliberate industrialisation drive.
Magaji said this at a one-day investors’ roundtable in Gombe on Thursday.
According to him, Gov. Inuwa Yahaya’s administration is attracting investments and laying the foundation for the industrialisation of the state.
He said that investors have high preferences of the state in view of the economic reforms and conducive business environment.
The Commissioner reitrated government commitment to create job opportunities, make the state economically viable and independent.
“Over the past four years, the administration of Governor Yahaya has invested enormously in infrastructure as well as providing an environment for businesses to thrive.
“Roads are critical in business and this administration has provided about 600 kilometres of roads from inception to date under the 11-100 initiative where 100km of roads are being constructed in all the 11 local government areas of the state.
“Asides that, the government has invested heavily in the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park which is already over 90 per cent completion.
“We already have some industries that have begun to site their businesses in the park.
“This administration is desirous of seeing the indigenes of Gombe partake in the realisation of the Muhammadu Buhari park,” he said.
Commenting on the meeting, Magaji said it was designed to consolidate on the feat achieved by the Yahaya’s industrialisation drive, adding that the state would host its second investment summit in November.
He said the participants would also discuss how the state could attract more investors.
According to him, the state government will initiate incentives for investors including tax holidays, adding that it applied for the licensing of the park as Export Free Trade Zone.
“Gombe is open for business and desirous of moving away from being a civil servant state to a state that is more of investors’ haven, a commercial state in business and an industrial hub”.
Also speaking, Mr Nasiru Mohammed, the state Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Tourism, said the N18 billion industrial park project had reached completion stage.
He said the park had been provided with road networks, water and electricity facilities for industrial development.
“Therefore, I am inviting you (investors) to please come to Gombe State, feel free and encourage other companies to come invest here too.
“We assure you of the safety of your products, investments, good skill and labour,” he said.
Hajiya Zariyatu Abubakar, the Local Government Manager State2State Activity of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), commended the state government’s effort towards ensuring a conducive environment for sustainable development.
Abubakar said the state recorded improvements in terms of service delivery, and stressed the need for good governance towards improving the wellbeing of the people.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting is being supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the European Union (EU) under its Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) initiatives.
