The Ogun State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Kikelomo Longe has called on industries to use the competitive advantage in the state to grow their business and recover faster from the negative effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Longe gave the charge during an industrial tour of companies at Ikenne and Sagamu Local Government Areas of Ogun state, noting that the crop of highly skilled human resources, abundant mineral deposit and the State’s geographical advantage, as well as business-friendly policies, should be well harnessed to boost their business.
She added that the state is also looking inwards and boosting its agro-processing to strengthen the value chain and create more job opportunities for unemployed youths.
She noted that the efforts were already getting recognition from relevant Stakeholders as the state recently emerged the Agro-allied Investment Destination in Nigeria at the Agro-allied Investment Destination Award while Governor Dapo Abiodun won the Governor of the Year Award at the Nigeria Agriculture Award.
READ ALSO: Titan Trust Bank launches drive-through banking service
Longe assured that the government would continue to create enabling environment for businesses to thrive through the implementation of more business-friendly policies noting that the creation of relevant Agencies like the Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (OGUNINVEST), Ogun State Enterprises Development Agency and others have been improving the Ease of Doing Business and attracting more investments into the State.
The Commissioner also stated that the government as part of efforts to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses approved a 50 percent discount on Land use charge while it also gave an 8-month extension on filing of 2019 annual Pay As You Earn (PAYE) returns.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olu. Ola. Aikulola lauded the founder of Lad Group Plc, Prince Babatunde Onafowokan, for his resilience at ensuring the company started operation despite different challenges assuring that the Ministry would continue to relate with relevant agencies in order to create enabling environment for businesses including those in agribusiness to thrive.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Industry, Trade and Investment, Sola Arobieke called on business entities to continue to reciprocate government’s efforts on the creation of enabling environment through prompt payment of taxes and recruitment through the job portal.
The Acting Managing Director, LadGroup Plc, Ikenne Local Government Area, Oluremi Bodunrin said the company was exploring various opportunities to cushion the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic which has affected the demand for its product stressing that the company did not lay-off any member of its staff.
In a related development, the Corporate Affairs Director, International Breweries Plc, Temitope Oguntokun who received the Commissioner and her team at the company’s Bara factory said despite the effect of the pandemic, the company did not retrench any of its workers assuring that the organisation remains focused on expanding the factory in line with its objectives.
