Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has assured multinational corporations of his administration’s commitment to fostering an enabling business environment, aiming to de-risk investment flow and guarantee substantial returns. Speaking at the Second Existing Foreign Direct Investors Roundtable at the Aso Presidential Villa in Abuja, Mbah highlighted the state’s ample opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, mineral resources, logistics, aviation, real estate, and ICT, among others.
Mbah’s assurances come at a pivotal moment as Enugu State has, for the first time, been recognized in a survey by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Committee (PEBEC) as one of the states where multinational corporations are more likely to expand. This reflects the state’s growing appeal to foreign investors.
The governor, addressing over 90 multinational corporations, including global giants like Dow Chemical and Microsoft, emphasized that his administration is focused on creating a robust economy, with the goal of growing Enugu’s economy sevenfold to $30 billion in the next six years. He further expressed his vision of transforming the state into a prime destination for investment, business, tourism, and living.
Mbah pointed out that for Nigeria to achieve its national growth objectives, progress must start from sub-national entities like Enugu. His administration is prioritizing infrastructure development, enhancing security, and improving the Ease of Doing Business as part of a comprehensive strategy to attract investment.
The governor also highlighted several incentives aimed at making Enugu an attractive investment destination, including the establishment of the Enugu State Investment Development Authority as a one-stop shop for investors. Additionally, Mbah noted the presence of federal regulatory agencies within the state and the introduction of the Enugu State Geographic Information System Services (ENGIS), which has reduced the processing time for Certificates of Occupancy to just 72 hours.
The roundtable also featured a presentation by Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, Director General of PEBEC, who shared the findings of an empirical study that placed Enugu among the top states foreign investors are keen to expand into, further affirming the state’s growing status as an investment hub.
With these efforts, Enugu State is poised to become a key player in Nigeria’s economic landscape, offering substantial opportunities for multinational corporations and investors alike.
