Gov. Ugwuanyi assures of conducive business environment for investors, traders in Enugu

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has assured a continually conducive business environment for investors and traders to get returns on their investment within Enugu State.

Ugwuanyi gave the assurance on Thursday in Enugu after receiving an award on “Special Recognition for Invaluable Contributions
Towards the Promotion of Social Protection Practice in Enugu State”.

The award was given to him during the launch of
Business Environment Competitiveness Across Nigerian States (BECANS-4) Survey Report Document by the African Heritage Institution (Afri-Heritage).

The report was sub-themed: “Transforming Nigerian Business Environment for Increased Investments, Economic Growth and Inclusive
Developments”.

The governor, represented by Mr Arinze Chilo-Offiah, Special Adviser to the Governor on SME Development and Investment Promotion,
said that the state government would continue to improve the business environment and put infrastructure to ensure growth of businesses.

He said that the government within a few years had trained thousands of youths in modern skills and entrepreneurship to be employers of labour and owners of their businesses.

“We will not relent in our pursuit to continue to
improve the business environment through commitment to innovations infrastructure provision and security that will guarantee that the state
continues to remain the number one business destination.

“We will still remain focused on business
environment development, youths’ empowerment and skill training to ensure that
poverty will be kicked out of the state and everyone living in the state is
financially empowered,” he said.

In a keynote address, the former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, urged state governments to take the findings and
recommendations of the report seriously and try to improve the business environment for the overall benefit of their people.

Nebo, who spoke on “Need for Regional Integration in Nigeria: A Perspective from the South-East: Approach to Transformative Change
in Nigeria, called on states to cooperate to take advantage of one another comparative advantage.

According to him, there is a need for states to have joint ventures at bi-state level or regional level to enhance and facilitate
greater growth.

One of the lead researchers for the survey report, Dr
Chiwuike Uba, said that the report presented a holistic view on the current
business environment of the 36 states and the FCT as well as the 774 council
areas in the country.

Uba, who is a fellow of Afri-Heritage, said that the
report captured various perimeters and factors that influenced the business
environment in each given location.

“The report document, which is a fall out of
painstaking research, will help states to see areas they are not doing well and
fix them.

“It will also point the light to would-be investors
to locations in the country to site their investment and get returns on their
investment.

“It showcases states and council areas with best and
standard business practices and policies as well as business infrastructure and
internet connectivity to promote business growth at individual, group and
multinational levels,” he said.

The Executive Director of Afri-Heritage, Prof. Ufo
Okeke-Uzodike, urged state and local governments to take advantage of the