“Assist us attract Foreign Investors to explore our potentials”, Ugwuanyi tells US Envoy
…assures him of safe Investments in Enugu
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has solicited the assistance of the US Embassy in Nigeria to enlighten and sensitize genuine business organisations in the United States on the state’s potentials with the aim of facilitating their entry into the state as investors.
Gov. Ugwuanyi also indicated the state’s willingness to share ideas and collaborate with the United States on matters of development.
The governor who spoke when the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Enugu, noted that the US Envoy’s first official visit to the state offers an ample opportunity to build a stronger and mutually beneficial working relationship with the United States.
He added that the desire of his administration to diversify the state’s economy and attract foreign direct investment in the face of the current economic challenges have made a closer collaboration even more imperative.
“We have in this respect, continued to invest heavily in all areas including security, infrastructural development, environmental improvement, expansion and regularisation of social services etc, that we believe, would help sustain a conducive environment for business investments to flourish in the state,” he said.
Soliciting the assistance of the US Embassy in Nigeria with regard to sensitizing business organisations in the United States on the potentials within Enugu, as well as facilitating their entry into the state as investors, the governor explained that his administration had listed for commercialisation or privatization, over 17 potentially lucrative state-owned companies and industries dealing in diverse areas of business and production.
“Beside this, we solicit the direct assistance of the United States government in the development of some critical sectors of the state’s economy such as education, healthcare, agriculture and security especially through the provision of modern communication equipment and other gadgets,” Governor Ugwuanyi said, adding that the presence of an international passenger and cargo airport and the establishment of a Free Trade Zone in Enugu as well as the urbanisation initiatives of the government, are additional incentives that boost the state’s economic profile.
The governor further assured the US envoy that whatever commitment or investment made by the United States government or organisations from the country in Enugu State is guaranteed to yield desired dividends and satisfy the interests of all parties involved.
Noting that he was in Enugu to acquaint himself with the people’s culture, Ambassador Symington said he was keen to strengthen the ties between his country and Nigeria and also work towards ensuring that United States businessmen explore rewarding opportunities in Enugu State.
The ambassador further described Governor Ugwuanyi’s work on provision of infrastructure as exemplary.
See full text of Gov. Ugwuanyi’s address:
PROTOCOLS
I am profoundly delighted to welcome the Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, His Excellency, W. Stuart Symington on his first official visit to Enugu State.
Enugu State has undeniably enjoyed a long history of interaction and cooperation with the Government of the United States through her diplomatic mission in Nigeria and some of her agencies like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Your Excellency’s visit today certainly offers us an ample opportunity to build a stronger and mutually beneficial working relationship with the United States through your office.
We are indeed more than prepared to share ideas and partner with your office on all issues of development and other matters as they pertain to Enugu State. This has become even more imperative in the light of the severe economic challenges currently facing country as well as the efforts we are making to counter them through the diversification of the economy and the attraction of direct foreign investments to our state.
We have in this respect, continued to invest heavily in all areas including security, infrastructural development, environmental improvement, expansion and regularisation of social services etc. that we believe, would help sustain a conducive environment for business investments to flourish in the state. We have also put in place,necessary legislations, institutional frameworks, favourable tax regime and special incentives that would make it easier and more convenient for the operation of businesses in Enugu. Currently,we have listed for commercialisation or privatization, over 17 potentially lucrative State -owned companies and industries dealing in diverse areas of business and production.
Enugu State is also richly endowed with natural and human resources that offer copious investment opportunities in Agriculture and Agro-Allied Enterprises and in the extraction and processing of such minerals as Coal, limestone, clay, oil, gas etc all of which are found in very abundant quantities in the state.
The presence of an international (passenger and cargo) airport and the establishment of a Free Trade Zone in Enugu as well as the urbanisation initiatives of the government, provide a further boost to the economic potentials and profile of the state.
We therefore seek the assistance of the US Embassy in Nigeria to enlighten and sensitize genuine business organisations in the United States on these potentials and to also, facilitate their entry into Enugu State as investors.
Beside this, we solicit the direct assistance of the United States Government in the development of some critical sectors of the state’s economy such as education, healthcare, agriculture and security (especially through the provision of modern communication equipment and other gadgets).
We want to assure you that any commitment or investment that the United States Government or organisations from the country may choose to make in Enugu State, is guaranteed to yield desired dividends and satisfy the interests of all parties involved.
On this note your Excellency, I once again welcome you to Enugu State and I wish you a happy and fruitful stay here. Thank you and God bless.
Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
Governor, Enugu State
