Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, said his administration has appropriated the sum of N3.4 billion in the 2020 budget for the establishment of small and medium-sized industries in each of the 17 local government areas of the state.
Gov. Ugwuanyi, who spoke during the opening ceremony of the 31st Enugu International Trade Fair, held at the Trade Fair Arena, Enugu, disclosed that an average sum of N200 million was appropriated for the projects in each of the 17 LGAs.
The governor explained that the rural development cum job creation initiative is both government-driven and stakeholder-participatory, adding that the choice of the industry will depend on each of the local government’s comparative advantage.
He also disclosed that his administration has “registered eight agricultural product trademarks including the Coal City Rice which will be launched soon.”
While disclosing that the state government has invested a lot of time and energy to position Enugu as a destination of choice for genuine investors, the governor stated said: “Our administration has continued to function as a business and investment enabler through the provision of secure operating environment for business/investment, consistent and favourable policies, facilitation of all bureaucratic processes for starting and doing business, friendly tax regime, and professional regulatory oversight role.”
He said further: “Our progress in this direction is self-evident in the leapfrogging of our state from its 2014 World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking as 27th out of 37 states (including FCT Abuja), to an enviable ranking as the 2nd state in Ease of Starting Business and 3rd atate in Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria in the 2018 World Bank Ease of Doing Business sub-national ranking.”
The governor, who welcomed the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Mariam Katagum and her entourage to the event, commended the President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agricultu re (ECCIMA), Sir. Emeka Nwandu and other members of the chamber for organizing the 31st edition of the annual business programme “and showing the right sensitivity to the economic grasp of our country.”