Lagos state governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensure a safe, conducive and investor-friendly environment to accommodate new businesses and investors willing to partner with the state.
Ambode, who was represented by the deputy governor, Idiat Adebule, said this during the visit of South Africa’s deputy minister of Trade and Industry, Mzwandile Masina, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.
He said that his administration was determined to further strengthen trade relationship with investors from other countries such as South Africa.
According to him, the state government created an office of Overseas Affairs and Investment for speedy facilitation of all investment transactions and requirements.
”We have established Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, so that we can strengthen trade relationship with other countries, create employment and grow our GDP.
”Lagos State is ready to expand its frontiers to accommodate investors willing to set up their businesses in the State to improve our economy and increase the Internally Generated Revenue, ” he said.
Earlier, Masina said his country was willing to partner with Lagos, being the economic hub of Nigeria, as well as home to many South African companies.
”We are here to pursue matters of trade between Nigeria and South Africa. We appreciate your continuous protection and we pledge our commitment to work with this government to grow our economies.
”After the calculation of the GDP, Nigeria is now number one economy in the continent and we applaud you for that status.
“We are proud to identify with you and we hope to bring some of our technologies here to complement each other.
”The time has come for Africa to arrive and we can achieve this when we foster and strengthen bi-lateral relationship between the two countries, ” he added.
Masina also appreciated the State Government’s efforts and assistance during the SCOAN building collapse incident.
”We thank you for all your assistance during the SCOAN building collapse incident, the identification of bodies and the repatriation of over 80 bodies to South Africa.
”We also hope that the government can assist us to ensure a closure on the matter. ”
The SCOAN guest house collapsed on Sept. 12, 2014.
The incident claimed the lives of 85 South Africans, 22 Nigerians, two Beninoise, one Togolese and six unidentified persons.
(NAN)
