Former Tanzanian President, Kikwete Tasks Nigeria On Enabling Environment For Investment

By Amos Tauna

Former president of Tanzania, Dr.Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, has tasks Nigerian leaders to provide enabling environment as the only panacea to attract investors to the country.

Speaking while delivering his keynote address at the ongoing Kaduna, northwest Nigeria Investment Summit, tagged KADINVEST 3.0,  Mr. Kikwete said, “A conducive investment environment is a very critical factor.

“Investments grow economies, create jobs, increase people’s incomes and help uplifts people from poverty to prosperity.

“If you have a lot to offer but if the investments climate is not conducive people will not come. Perhaps this is the most important factor that business people give closest attention to and very serious consideration when choosing where to direct their investment to, it is almost a make or break factor , it is the ultimate.”

He charged Nigerian leaders to provide the enabling environment for investment, saying, “I have learnt from experience of promoting investments for my country, Tanzania has investments opportunities not withstanding, a conducive investment environment is a very critical factor.

“Even the countries of the USA, Japan, China are still fishing for investments for their countries” because they want to have that comparative advantage.

“When they say, let us go to Kaduna, the first question they ask is, what is there, why should we go there, what are we going to benefit from there . Am glad the Kaduna State government appreciates this fact in the KADIPA document called invest in Kaduna State prepared for this forum, the investments opportunities that Kaduna State has to offer have been very well narrated in it.

“There is an enormous investment opportunities. The Governor has elaborated on that very important aspect, therefore it makes a lot of economic sense for investors to decide to invest in this state. They will not regret”.

“It takes investments to turn arable land into farm producing agricultural crops and a ranch producing meat and descent meals, it takes investments to build factories, residential houses, office blocks, shopping mall  to generate incomes for those who have invested.

“It takes investments to have a well functioning government, defense and security establishment, parliament, courts of law to provide services to the people and ensure progress, security, Safety and Justice in the society.

“Without investments all these and many more will not be possible, without investments resources and opportunities however abandoned there maybe may not be able to benefit individuals. Societies or nations which fund them.”

In his message, President Muhammadu Buhari said, “It has been a great pleasure to witness the concrete and productive outcomes arising from KAdinvest since the first edition in 2016.

“The foresight of the Kaduna State Government to initiate this platform and ensure that it is more than a talkshop is commendable.

“It was a proud moment for me to Commission the Olam Hatchery and Feedmill project in September 2017, the ground breaking ceremony of which was performed a day after the first KAdinvest in 2016.

“The successful take off and delivery of that project in record time demonstrated the potential of our state governments to attract significant foreign direct investment.

“The Federal Government is encouraging similar initiatives across the sub-national level to create jobs and prosperity for our people.

“The implementation of the economic recovery and growth plan requires significant investment by the government and the private sector to build infrastructure and diversify the economy.

“Consistent with this goal, the Federal Government is pushing forward an aggressive plan to make it easier to do business in Nigeria.

“Key agencies are committed to milestones and measures to reduce waiting times for government approval and remove as many impediments to business as we can  safely and prudently do.”

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/04/03/business/nigeria-remains-commitment-to-ease-of-doing-business-official/