Enugu, Best State For Investment, Says Governor Mbah

Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, has assured investors of the state’s conducive environment for business and high returns on investment.

 He said with the state’s deliberate policies at de-risking investment flow and enhancing ease of doing business, Enugu remains the best and most attractive state to invest.

The governor made the assertion at the weekend in Enugu during the 60th anniversary of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA).

Mbah said his administration was poised to continue to forge workable and progressive partnership with the association made up of captains of industry, manufacturers, business moguls and investors.

While congratulating ECCIMA for driving the state’s economic expansion, Mbah attributed the successes recorded in its 60 years of existence to the good foundation laid by its founding fathers, adding that his administration recognised the positive impacts of the investors on the economy.

He said, “I would like to acknowledge all businesses, captains of industry, and investors represented here today. We recognize your active participation in fostering the growth of businesses within the state. Permit me to state that you are integral to the building of our state’s economy.”

Governor Mbah, who was represented by the secretary to the state government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, said his administration is focused on investment, expanding the state’s economic base and creating the right environment for more investors to come in.

“Our vision is to grow Enugu’s economy from a GDP of N4.4bn to N30bn within 4-8 years and to reduce the poverty headcount to zero. These form the policy thrust of our government and underpin our policy development. ECCIMA is pivotal to the achievement of this goal by contributing to economic and business activities while also providing employment to many.

“Our administration is actively engaging with investors and development partners to drive investment within the state. Just a few weeks into our administration, we held an investment roundtable and a few days ago, an investors network was held here in Enugu. While we trudge on with these initiatives, we are well aware of the importance of driving domestic investment and local business growth.

“As a result, we have focused on a robust strategy to improve key drivers of growth for our domestic businesses. This covers improvement of infrastructure and enabling the business environment,” he added.

Governor Mbah said they were very focused on the partnership they had seen in ECCIMA. He added that the state government was focused on creating an enabling environment for businesses, through infrastructural development, public private partnership and harmonisation of taxes, for businesses to thrive in the state, using e-governance model to block leakages.

In his address, the president of ECCIMA, Jasper Nduagwuike, said ECCIMA was founded by Dr Nlogha Okeke of blessed memory with successors sustaining the dreams of the founding fathers. “The Chamber movement is not profit making, but is powered by the selfless commitment of people who want to partner with the government to ensure the ease of doing business so that appropriate economic benefits can accrue to the people and government of the day”, he said.

Nduagwuike, who was represented by Nnanyelugo Onyemelukwe, commended Enugu State government for its support to ECCIMA, assuring continuous partnership with the state government.

Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Ide J.C. Udeagbala, who was represented by the president, South East Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (SECCIMA), Humphrey Ngonadi, felicitated ECCIMA for its laudable contributions to the growth of the country, even as he commended Enugu State government for its support to ECCIMA.