The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) on Thursday said it would partner the Niger State Government to attract investors into tourism and agricultural sectors of the state
Ms Yewande Sadiku, the Chief Executive Officer of NIPC, said this when Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger visited the commission in Abuja.
Sadiku said that the commission would support the state government in profiling investment opportunities that would attract foreign investors to the state.
According to her, the commission was building a platform for capacity building and profiling investment opportunities; starting with a tool that would help in profiling small and medium scale enterprises (SMES).
“We are profiling investment opportunities in a way that will be easy to market.
“By doing this, such profiling will help investors identify specific opportunities. We are happy to work with whatever team you designated first to profile.
“We have adequate information on different types of profiling that can be used as teasers for our engagement with investors,” she said.
She noted that the platform would help states with investment projects to market their products.
Sadiku said that Niger had the potential to feed Nigeria and West Africa if attention were given to key sectors such as infrastructure development in agriculture and tourism.
She said that the development of infrastructure would help the state close some of the challenges it might face in terms of competitiveness of manufactured goods.
“Nigeria has three hydro-electric dams located in Niger and power is the foundation for industrial development.
“Niger is one of the 36 states that is unique due to its proximity to Abuja, this means that the state is already close to the market. . “We are delighted to work with you in terms of marketing projects and profiling,” she said.
Earlier, Gov. Bello had solicited the support of the commission in profiling and carrying out feasibility studies on agriculture and tourism sectors in the state to attract global investors.
He said that the state had structures such as the Baro Port, tourist sites and agriculture potential that had not been adequately harnessed due to lack of proper profiling and feasibility studies.
“We have tourist sites and agriculture potentials which many investors have shown interest to develop; but we need profiling on these key sectors for foreign investors to know what Niger State can offer them,” he said.
Bello, however, noted that such potential if properly harnessed would have more impact and generate more revenue and jobs for the people of the state and the country at large. (NAN)
