…But MAN asks for more, demands for industrial fund
Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State has unveiled State’s industrial promotion policy drive, saying his administration will build the much-needed industrial park.
This is as manufacturers have requested a special fund to boost access to financing, just as they have commended the governor for putting an end to nightmares associated with land title documents.
The governor told the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) delegation that paid him a visit that he would stop multiple taxes and start off by instructing the local council areas nearest to the state capital to put an end to certain taxes.
The said he was all out to promote Ease of Doing Business in Rivers State by resolving the multiple taxes syndrome said to be giving huge nightmares to business operators in the State.
This is said to be a key measure to promoting investments and boosting Ease of Doing Business in the oil-rich State, especially for local direct investors (LDIs) as already demanded by the organised private sector (OPS).
The governor made this assertion while playing host to the executive members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Rivers and Bayelsa States’ chapter, who paid him a courtesy visit at the State Government House in Port Harcourt.
It was observed that despite the crisis in the state, the governor seemed engrossed in thoughts and plans to shield the private sector from too much negative distractions and impacts.
The governor said he would instruct the newly appointed caretaker committee chairmen especially those of Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt, and Eleme local councils to review their revenue drive activities and seek to enhance the ease of doing business in their areas.
On the plans for a new industrial park, the governor said that modalities were already in place to execute the project which was a key demand at the recently concluded economic and investment summit in State.
He noted that the old Port Harcourt Trans-Amadi Industrial Area had been taken over by residences and that the place could no longer serve as the State’s industrial park.
The state chief executive added that power and other enabling facilities that would support an industrial park would have to be put in place when citing the new location of the industrial park.
Governor Fubara also promised to support MAN in relevant areas that the State Government can.
Earlier, Vincent Okuku, the chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Rivers and Bayelsa branch, lauded Governor Fubara for driving the policy that has enabled investors within the state to have Certificates of Occupancy (CofO).
Okuku, an elder and chairman of the MAN chapter, who spoke to newsmen after MANs exco members meeting with the State governor, noted that it had been a tale of woes for manufacturers as well as other investors in the bid to access funds such as loans form lending agencies in order to enhance their business.
He said to be able to access loan, one must have a CofO for your landed property as collateral especially with the Bank of Industry (BoI).
He said Governor Fubara facilitated the policy that had enabled investors to obtain CofO and they could access loans. He said that this development would further boost investment.
Also, the MAN Rivers and Bayelsa chapter chairman commended the State governor for moves to establishing State industrial park, noting that it would be a one-stop- shop for intending investors to be furnished with regulatory policies that would create the much-needed Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in the State.
He pointed out more areas of difficulty, saying that MAN was still faced with multiple taxation and poor energy supply. He further used the medium to solicit that MAN should be considered as partners in the development fund.
