17th October, 2015
Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured Brazilian and other foreign investors of his administration’s commitment to the provision of an enabling environment for private investment that will not only thrive but yield the desired result profit.
The Governor, who spoke while receiving the Brazilian Trade Mission team in his office, stated that foreign investors who are seen as catalysts of development in societies are always welcome to the state.
He assured the team from the Latin American Country of the cooperation of the State Government, stressing that Lagos as the economic capital of Nigeria was the choice destination for foreign investment.
Ambode, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, Mrs. Arinola Odulana, urged the delegation not to hesitate in translating the age-long historical and cultural affinity between Nigeria and Brazil into investments, especially in key areas such as transportation, power, agriculture, health, infrastructure development and housing.
The Governor emphasized that the present administration had come up with policies to enhance the ease of doing business in the state, among which are the existence of institutional and legal framework as well as the creation of the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment as a one-stop-shop for investors to ease bureaucratic bottlenecks.
On his part, the Leader of the Brazilian Trade Mission, Ambassador Adamu Emozozo, said that the Mission decided to engage the State Government for investment purpose due to the strategic importance of Lagos as the socio-economic nerve centre of Nigeria.
Mr. Emozozo stated that some of the investors in the team were from the critical sectors of the Brazilian economy which include construction, manufacturing, building equipment and trading.