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From Joseph Obukata, Warri
Delta State Commissioner for Trade and Investment Samuel Oligida, on Thursday, said that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was in a hurry to develop the state especially the rural and coastal areas.
Oligida spoke when he received in audience a delegation of Netherlands investors led by environmental rights activist Sunny Ofehe at his office in the state secretariat complex, Asaba, the state capital.
Receiving the delegation, Oligida, said that Governor Oborevwori would be happy to ensure that the state government comes into partnership with prospective investors who want to help the state develop its potential.
He said that Delta State had always been an investors destination, assuring the visitors that the Governor would be willing to render whatever assistance needed to drive the process.
Oligida who was just recently sworn in as commissioner and assigned the Trade and Investment portfolio, expressed delight over the visit being his second day in office, saying that the state government would be accommodating to any investors that mean well for the state.
He said that the state has enough land space for tourists attraction and other investment of any capacity.
The commissioner who received the investors alongside the Permanent Secretary in charge of the Ministry, Mrs Anthoria Ubogu, urged the team to come out with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for appraisal and reappraisal.
He said that the MoU would enable the state government know what role it can play in the whole process, saying that Governor Oborevwori would not hesitate to key into and sign any MoU that would bring more infrastructural development to the state.
Speaking earlier, Ofehe said that a consortium of Chief Executive Officers/ investors from the Netherlands had declared interest to partner the state government in several areas including security management and flood management, sport development, as well as the health, martime and energy sector.
He said that the Netherlands have the means and technical expertise to drive the sustainable road construction, establishment of dry dock, modular refinery and sporting projects that would form the comprehensive MoU.
He said that because of the time and effort involved in negotiating and drafting an effective document, the MoU is expected to come into fruition before October, 2023.
“We’re here to get government willingness to strike a partnership, once we get that, we will proceed to outline specific points of understanding. It will be two or three page documents that will describe the specific project on which we all will agree, and detail each party’s roles and responsibilities.
“We have institutions in the Netherlands and Caribbean to take care of the funding but where we can’t get 100 percent funding we will need counterpart funding from the state government.
“We have willing companies that would take care of our climate change problems. It’s a global problem and we must address it as it is done globally”, Ofehe said.
Ofehe, however urged the state government to open its door for negotiation, communication, and ensure guarantee on investment while ensuring security for investment and creating business friendly environment.
Present at the meeting with Ofehe were Mr. Drederik Bos (The Netherlands), Prof. Dr. Ernst Franzek (Germany), Mr. Niels Ducaat (The Netherlands), Mr. Jacobus Van Wissen (The Netherlands), and Mr. Joe Ogbodu (Delegation Head Media).
