Fubara woos manufacturers, investors to Rivers

Rivers State Governor  Siminalayi Fubara has urged manufacturers and investors to leverage the opportunities available in the  State to invest and create values that will accelerate development.

The governor assured that the state is now secure and friendly for businesses to strive.

According to Fubara, despite insinuations that painted the state as a harsh environment for investment, his administration has taken steps to ensure friendly environments for industries to grow in the state.

Fubara stated this at the 40th Annual General Meeting and Exhibition of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN,  Rivers, and  Bayelsa  State chapter held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

Represented by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Charles Bekee, the governor said he has put in place several incentives to encourage local production and growth of small and medium-scale enterprises, SMEs, in the state

He said, “We want to encourage MAN not just Rivers and Bayelsa branch, we are encouraging all manufacturers that Rivers State is a safe haven for you to come and invest.

“We know that we had issues in the past where some industrialists came to the state to invest but the unfriendly government then didn’t give them access. We want to assure you that this government is industry-friendly and also ready to partner with MAN,” he said.

Fubara listed the N4 billion SME loans, tax harmonisation, and provision of patrol vehicles to security agencies as deliberate actions by his administration to create a better environment for businesses to strive in the state.

The governor also said the Port Harcourt Ring Road and other road networks under construction in the state are all geared towards easing business activities in and around Rivers State.

He highlighted other policies of the government towards boosting the business economy, including the planned reviving of Songhai Farm, Banana Plantation, and ongoing plans to create an industrial park at the Afam-Iriebe axis of the state.

In his address, the chairman, Rivers and Bayelsa State branches of MAN, Vincent Okuku, commended the governors of the two States for their support and willingness to partner with the association.

He said it is important for the government to continue to partner with the association and focus on key sectors like the manufacturing sector to ensure sustainable growth and development.

In a keynote presentation,  the Executive Director of Dangote Group, Mansur Ahmed, called for more investment in the manufacturing sector, infrastructural development, easy access to finance, human capacity development, working together with SMEs to sustain supply chains as some of the measures to attain economic growth.

He also called on states of the Niger Delta to collaborate to create industrial parks and clusters and diversify the region’s economy from oil by taking advantage of the potential available in the blue economy by going into sea farming, timber, and wood processing for furniture amongst others.