Enugu to partner ECOBPA for good business environment

Enugu State government has promised to partner with the Enugu Coalition of Business and Professionals Association (ECOBPA) to rewrite the unfavourable World Bank report on the business environment in the state, and south east in general.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who gave the strong indication while unveiling the Enugu State Business Agenda, which was articulated by ECOBPA during its business advocacy program in Enugu, said the state government was ready to reposition Enugu as a business-minded city.

ECOBA, supported by Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) Washington DC, USA, identified eight critical business issues that affect the Enugu business environment. The report led to the production of a policy brief document for consideration and implementation by the state government, to improve the state’s business environment.

Ugwuanyi, represented by the state commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Sam Ogbu Nwobodo, said, the government would partner with the organised private sector (OPS) to ensure that the business environment in the state was favourable, not only to local investors, but also to foreign investors. Nwobodo said the present administration had already started addressing some of the issues; saying that Enugu State had approved the establishment of a one-stop-shop investment center (OSSIC), where every agency involved in levies and taxes would be brought together, to avoid multiple taxations and levies.

“We are here as government to find solutions. It is good that we have this type of forum where we discuss and engage each other,” the governor said.

He said the issue of ‘ease of doing business’ was one of the first things that struck him when he took over, which has been in discussion on the best way out; adding that government strongly believes that, without such an environment recommended along the line of the World Bank report, the economy would not grow.

“If businesses do not thrive, and more businesses do not come in, the burden on the existing ones will be too much. So it is important to expand the base whereby new businesses come in,” he said.

He further stated that the state House of Assembly was also championing other legal enactments and regulations towards creating good business environment in the state.

The chairman of ECOBA, Ugo chukwu Chime, said, the coalition’s aim was to partner with the state government’s effort towards creating enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state, in order to expand the state’s economic base.

He said ECOBA has succeeded in campaigns for advocacy programmes and dialogue with many ministries and agencies of government on many issues.

Participants at the event called on various governments to grant every company that can employ up to 10 persons, tax holiday, to enable them employ more in the present economic challenges facing the country.