By THE Edo State government has embarked on initiatives to simplify business processes through digitization in the state.
The state Commissioner for Business, Trade and Cooperatives, Hon. Patrick Iria Uanseru, disclosed this on Monday in his address at the celebration of the Africa Industrialisation Day in Benin City.
The commissioner said that the Ministry of Business, Trade and Cooperatives was a key organizer of the events commemorating the Africa Industrialization Day in Edo State.
Stonix News reports that the theme for this year’s celebration is “Accelerating Africa’s Industrialisation through the Empowerment of African Women in Processing for an Integrated Market.”
The commissioner said that industrialisation had been neglected over the years, noting that there was the need to renew adequate attention to the sector.
He observed that the gathering would provide golden opportunity for primary stakeholders to reflect on Edo State’s industrialization by viewing how the state can change its present state of affairs.
On the achievements of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration, the commissioner said that the state had instituted several reforms to address bureaucratic constraints in the business environment to drive the industrialization process in the state.
“We have embarked on many initiatives to simplify business processes within State by taking active steps to digitize the processes and introduce targeted reforms.
“The Edo State Geographical Information Service (GIS) has considerably reduced the amount of time required to acquire land documentation in the State for investment purposes.
“We are committed to attracting investors and making Edo State the preferred investment destination in Nigeria.
“The State has attracted investments projects from both Local Foreign interest Groups.
“Such investments include Dangote Group, BUA Group, Yonxing Steel, Time Ceramics, Rongsheng Glass, Watson Doors to name but a few. These companies are thriving very well in the State,” he said
The commissioner also said that the Benin Enterprise Park would be Nigeria’s premier mixed used Enterprise Park.
According to him, the Park, which comprises industrial, commercial and residential zones, iss situated at 997 hectares (almost 10 square km) of real estate.
He said that the park was designed to attract world class industries that were keen to be at the logistical centre of Africa’s biggest and most vibrant economy.
“It will provide a superbly master plan site with state-of-the-art and secure infrastructure facilities, including quality control labs, warehousing and raw materials storage among others,” he said.
The commissioner shall disclosed that the state government has proposed to develop Benin River Port to diversify the economy in line with the Federal Government’s diversification initiative.
He said that the Benin Enterprise Park and Benin River Port or Benin Port Project were being executed under PPP arrangement.
According to him, “this is to ensure inclusiveness and sustainability of the projects.
“As the projects will be driven by the private investors and the State Government, there is the assurance that the 1st phases of the projects will inaugurated soonest.
‘In fact, the 1st phase of the Benin Enterprise Park will be inaugurated before the end of Mr. Godwin Obaseki’s administration in 2024,” the commissioner said.
He, however, urged the people of EDI State to cooperate with the Governor Obaseki-led administration to enable the governor finish strongly.
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