**Attracts 120 Firms in 6 Years
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
No fewer than 120 companies have been attracted to Ogun State in the last six years. This was the submission of the state’s Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Bimbo Ashiru.
The Commissioner, while speaking on Thursday when he received members of the Ogun Assembly Committee on Investment, Commerce and Industries, in Abeokuta, stated that the state government would soon inaugurate 20 new industries.
He said that the state was one of the four states with the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the country.
He assured that the ministry would collaborate with the Assembly to put in place more legislation to enhance activities of the ministry.
According to him, the state government is working to put more strategies in place to further partner investors to boost foreign direct investment inflow for the socio-economic development of the state.
He said that as part of the efforts of government at reducing unemployment rate, the current administration would start internship and vocational programmes for undergraduates.
He said that the ministry would assist them to secure placement in industries across the state with a view to assisting them to secure future employment in the companies.
The Commissioner said that the ministry hosted the 8th Gateway Trade fair and first International Cocoa Summit in Nigeria during the period under review.
“We also launched the `one stop shop’ initiative to facilitate location of more local and foreign investment for wealth creation and employment generation in the state,” he said.
Commenting on the Harmonisation Bill before the Assembly, he expressed optimism that when passed, it would address grey areas in revenue generation by government agencies.
He said the bill, when assented to law, would create a result oriented tax system and aid to improve the revenue base of the state.
Chairman of the Committee, Mr Bowale Solaja, commended the ministry for making the state investors’ destination of choice.
He advised the state to set more machineries in motion at ensuring the success of the ongoing industrialisation efforts of the state government.
