Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State

Mr Bimbo Ashiru, the Ogun Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, on Thursday said that the state government attracted over 120 companies to the state in the last six years.

Ashiru made this known while playing host to members of Ogun Assembly Committee on Investment, Commerce and Industries, who were on oversight visit to the ministry in Abeokuta.

The commissioner said that 20 new industries would soon be inaugurated in the state.

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 legislations 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.

The Committee Chairman, 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. (NAN)