11th September, 2011
The current administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun is determined to increase the number of industries in Ogun State to about 10,000 in the next four years.
The number of companies, which presently is about 1,500, is expected to increase owing to the creation of a one-stop shop in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which will reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks for prospective investors.
The state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, disclosed this during a tour of industries at the Ado Odo-Ota axis of the state.
Ashiru maintained that adequate infrastructure had been put in place to assure investors of optimum returns on their investments, urging them to always reciprocate government’s goodwill through prompt payment of their taxes.
“The state already has a bad representation of being one of the worst locations to site a business, but the present administration is poised to change that perception through the creation of this one-stop shop for prospective investors in the state. It will reduce bottlenecks and assist investors to relate with other government agencies, all within the shortest period of time.â€
He disclosed that the reconstruction of Ijoko-Akute road to six lanes was in the pipeline, adding that the state government had intensified efforts also in the area of security management.
The commissioner enjoined industrialists in the state to improve on their corporate social responsibility in the host communities, reiterating the present administration’s commitment to the continuous creation of friendly business environment for investors to achieve a mutually beneficial relationship.
The General Manager, Veevee Nigeria Limited, Mr. Rajav Vaswani, while responding, appreciated the efforts of the state government for creating an enabling environment for investors, appealing for improved infrastructure development to enhance productivity.
Other industries visited by the commissioner include Sosaco Nigeria Limited and Nigerian Distillers Limited, Otta.