Enugu state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah has urged Indonesian businesses and investors to take advantage of the numerous investment opportunities, improved business environment, and ample returns on investment (ROI) in the state.
He stated this as the governments of Nigeria and Indonesia pledged closer collaboration to boost trades and investments between both countries for their mutual prosperity.
Governor Mbah made the call in a keynote address he delivered at the 2023 Nigerian-Indonesian Investment and Trade Forum, which opened in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, Monday.
Speaking at the event organised by the Nigerian-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) in collaboration with the Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre, Lagos, Mbah, while commending the growth of trade volume between Nigeria and Indonesia to $4.7 billion, however, observed that both countries could actually do much more, especially considering the abundant opportunities offered by Enugu state.
He listed the investment opportunities in the state, spanning agriculture, mineral resources, logistics, aviation, tourism, real estate, mineral resources, ICT, among others.
“In the area of agriculture, Enugu is blessed with 10 percent arable, fertile land with a high factor of productivity and good access to both surface and subterranean water that makes year-round agriculture possible.
“The state is climatically disposed to the production of key produce like cassava, oil palm, cashew, spices of various types.
“These areas offer not only the opportunity for primary agricultural production, but also the opportunity to invest in industrial facilities to add value to these produce for local consumption as well as export.
“The State is also blessed with significant deposits of minerals. In the area of petroleum, Enugu State has proven deposits of oil but more importantly has extensive deposits of natural gas.
Assuring that Enugu was open for business, he said his administration’s target to grow Enugu state’s economy from the present $4.4 billion to a new level of $30 billion was anchored on extensive private sector investment and utilisation of strong local and international partnerships.
Speaking, the Ambassador of Indonesia to Nigeria, Dr. Usra Harahap, reiterated the readiness of the government and business community of Indonesia to strengthen investment and trade ties with Nigeria at both federal and subnational levels for mutual benefits.
In his remarks, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Usman Ari Ogah, said the Investment and Trade Forum was yielding the required results.
