7th December, 2010
The Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has called on Nigerians living in the Diaspora, to visit the state, so as to partake in the myriad of investment opportunities currently opening up in the area.
The governor threw up the invitation, while declaring open a trade exhibition, held at the USA-Nigerian Business Forum, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on International and Diaspora Affairs, Mrs. Remi Duyile, the governor disclosed that the state government was offering special concessions to investors, wishing to engage in development projects in the state.
According to Mimiko: “Ondo State which has a population of nearly four million people and a land mass of about 16,000 kilometres sq, is blessed with a variety of mineral and natural resources.â€
“Foremost in the rich endowments of the state, are huge deposits of oil and gas, both of which exist in abundance, onshore and offshore,’ he added.
The governor pointed out that the state is reputed for having one of the largest deposits of bitumen in world, stressing that the mineral resource had the potential of turning the fortunes of any investor into a fairy tale of success.
Mimiko noted that in a scenario where the whole world was being challenged by global recession, there was urgent need for individual nations and their component states to evolve ways and strategies of sustaining their economic growth and creating a good life for their people.
It is within this context, he said, that international collaboration and partnerships is proving to be the most worthwhile and more rewarding option.
Mimiko urged prospective investors to take advantage of the Olokola Free Trade Zone in the state, which he noted, is pregnant with opportunities for extensive maritime port operations, as well as ship building and repairs prospects.
These aside, he said, other categories of investors, could partner with government in the commercial exploitation of agricultural resources like cocoa, rubber, timber, palm produce and cassava as well as the processing of gemstones, sand tar, limestone deposits and granite.
He gave assurance that policies that will sustain a conducive investment climate would be maintained by the government, adding that a public/private partnership drive will continue to engage priority attention of the state government.
