By Omorowa Naomi
The Managing Director of Edo State Investment promotion Office (ESIPO), Mr. Kelvin Uwaibi, has reassured the people of Edo that the State Government remains committed to attracting investments into the State.
He gave the assurance on Saturday, during a Webinar Series organized by the Edo Media Connect Forum in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and Orientation themed “Attracting Diaspora Investments: A Catalyst for Developing Arts, Culture and Tourism Potentials of Edo”.
According to Uwaibi, the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has sustained efforts to engender an enabling economic atmosphere for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the State through export promotion programs and a healthy partnership with the private sector.
In his opening remark, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Andrew Adaze Emwanta, said the aim of the webinar series is to enlighten Edo people all over the world on the benefits of having the support of the Diaspora community in attracting investments to the Arts, Culture and Tourism sector in order to achieve the Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Agenda.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Bamidele Obaitan, said the Obaseki administration is determined to sell Edo as a world class tourist destination and a centre for leisure and cultural tourism.
Obaitan dismissed unfounded fears among some Edo people in the Diaspora over insecurity and described Edo as the safest State in southern Nigeria and added that land acquisition in the State has become easier with the reforms that birthed the Edo Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS).
He also said that the constant electricity supplies in the State by the Ossiomo Power Plant has added a great deal of impetus to businesses setting up in the State.
Answering questions on the ease of doing business in the State, the Managing Director of ESIPO maintained that several incentives like tax credit and affordable land amongst other initiatives are attracting investors to the State.
