From Bamigbola Gbolagunte
The Israeli government has expressed its readiness to partner with the Osun government for the state’s economic development.
This is even as the government of Israel has declared its interest in some economic potentials of Nigeria, stressing that the country will develop more if all its investment potentials are well utilised.
The Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Michael Freeman who spoke at the maiden Osun State Industrial Investment Summit held in Osogbo, the state capital, on Wednesday, assured that the Israeli government will engage in a partnership of give and take with Nigeria and Osun State in particular.
Freeman, who noted that Nigeria and Israel have many things in common, hinted that 45 percent of the GDP is based on the brains of Israelites.
He said the government of Israel believes in the brains of its people and makes judicious use of their brains to drive the country’s economy and develop the nation’s commerce and industry.
The Israeli ambassador to Nigeria stressed the need for the Nigerian government to make good use of the population that the country has, as the population can be used for the economic gains of the country if properly managed.
Speaking, Governor Ademola Adeleke reiterated his commitment to the economic development of the state, saying that his administration is determined to make the state the industrial hub of southwestern Nigeria.
He said, “We want to accelerate the pace of industrialisation because we are on a mission, and that is why we have embarked on several initiatives across different sectors of the Osun economy, which include the revitalisation of the Free Trade Zone which is planned to provide over 1,000,000 direct and indirect jobs for the people, establishment of farm produce aggregation centres with cold and dry storage facilities and processing units, the encouragement of youths to key into skills upgrade and entrepreneurship development training programmes and the revival of moribund industries, among others.
“The Osun State Industrial Development Policy Document was also launched after twenty-two years. This is also to develop the economy of the state.
“Our vision is also to make Osun State one of the top ten revenue-generating states in Nigeria, ensure relative peace and security, and grow the economy.
“Osun State is open beyond borders and across space for industrial investment to investors, manufacturing industries, world leaders in business, private and corporate investors, tourists, and people in the diaspora. We are open to investments from Osun indigenes, Osun people in the diaspora, and indeed everyone from across the globe. Osun is home to everyone, irrespective of tribe, race, language, colour, or background,” he added.
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev Bunmi Jenyo, said the summit was organised in line with the vision of Governor Ademola Adeleke to make the state the hub of economic activities in the southwest geopolitical zone.
He assured that many investors, including globally recognised ones, will soon invest in the state going by the efforts being made by Governor Adeleke, just as he hinted that many companies will soon spring up in the state.
Jenyo, who assured that the state government will support investors for the economy of the state to thrive, stressed the need for all and sundry to support the state government to rescue the state’s economy.