The Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma has expressed the state’s readiness to host Indian investors, describing Imo as a conducive environment and haven for investments and businesses.
The Governor spoke through the state’s Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Investment, Dr Chike Benson Abazu during a courtesy visit to the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador G. Balasubramanian.
Dr. Abazu told the Indian Envoy that Governor Uzodinma has prepared Imo ready for potential investors as could be gleaned from the number of foreign and local investors streaming into the state.
The Commissioner listed a number of investment opportunities he said abound in the state which he told the High Commissioner his country and other potential investors could invest in.
These, according to Dr Abazu include but not limited to Agri business, Maritime, Power, Oil and Gas, Aviation, Education/Edutech, Real estate,Sustainability/Environment, Industrial
ICT & Telecommunications Utilities,Energy and Mining, Tourism and Hospitality, Logistics, Transportation, Manufacturing,
Construction, Smart Cities, Trade and Export Healthcare.
He highlighted the giant strides, especially in the area of Foreign Direct Investment, FDI the State has made under the leadership Governor Uzodimma, stressing that the Uzodinma administration has attracted huge FDI to the State in the areas of Power, Oil and Gas, Road Infrastructure, maritime, Information and Communication Technology, Aviation and Agricultural sectors.
These, Dr Abazu, emphasised, have placed Imo in a pole position as the investors’ destination of choice. Recently, he disclosed, the Governor in partnership with AfreximBank performed the ground breaking ceremony of the African Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) in Ngor Okpala to ensure that goods for export are certified in Imo State to meet the international regulatory standards.
The Commissioner invited the High Commissioner to take advantage of the Industrial Park and the generous tax incentives offered by State government to bring his country’s Investors to the State, “as we are eagerly waiting with open arms to receive Indian business men and women who are desirous of investing in our dear State”
Resonding, the High Commissioner thanked Dr Abazu for the visit which he said was timely as a plan was already underway to receive a delegation of Indian Investors who would arrive Nigeria in a few weeks time.
Ambassador Balasubramanian assured the Commissioner that Imo State will be one of the destinations the business delegation will visit, expressing the optimism that “with the location of Imo State and it’s arable land, Indian investors will be ready to invest in the Agricultural and Industrial sectors. “
Present during the visitor was the Indian Second Secretary for Commerce, Pranay Singha who expressed delight at the potentials Imo State has to offer Indian investors, promising to work quickly with the Imo state Ministry of Trade Commerce and Investment Imo State to ensure the lofty objectives were achieved for the mutual benefit of India and Imo State and Nigeria in general