Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has assured members of the business community in the State of the commitment of his administration to improve the environment towards making business more attractive to investors.
Speaking at the Lagos State Day and closing of the Y2021 Lagos International Trade Fair, the Governor, represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said his administration will continue to place priority on key infrastructure to make the State safe, secure, functional and productive as an impetus towards achieving sustainable economic growth, through highly-motivated and vibrant private-sector participation.
Sanwo-Olu stated that since inception, his administration has left no one in doubt about its intention to accord the private sector a pride of place in its vision and plan to build a 21st-century economy, adding that Lagos has taken practical steps to translate its intention into concrete actions, through various infrastructural projects and business-friendly policies.
He disclosed that some of the ground-breaking projects have been completed and commissioned while others are projected for completion between next year and the first quarter of Y2023, listing some of the projects which have great multiplier effects on business growth as the Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Blue Line Rail, among others.
The Governor stressed further that the present administration has also not relented in its efforts to improve power supply and enhanced internet connectivity, just as it is investing massively to step up the security architecture that has ensured that the State remains one of the safest in the nation.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Dr. (Mrs.) Lola Akande, stated that the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu led administration has taken strides to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship development and business prosperity by developing physical infrastructure and other business support processes to enhance the economic competitiveness and productivity of small enterprises in the State.
She further assured that Lagos shall not rest on its oars until business prosperity is guaranteed because becoming Africa’s model megacity by Y2025 is hinged on continuous improvement of the business climate to stimulate private sector investments, create jobs and increase productivity in the State.
The Commissioner noted that the participation in the annual Trade Fair affords the opportunity to accommodate a number of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in the State Pavilion to relieve them of the burden of participation fees, thereby giving them the opportunity to showcase their products and services to the public, including the international community.
She added that this is one of the many ways in which the State Government has been promoting and providing a networking platform for MSMEs to stimulate demand for their products and services and ultimately facilitate the enhancement of their productivity.
In her remarks, the President of the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, while appreciating and commending the resilience and optimism of participants at the fair, opined that governments at all levels in the nation would continue to address the issue of enabling environment, especially as it regards infrastructure, insecurity and the right kind of policies that promote trade.
She added that these are needed in order to fully harness the huge enterprising resources of domestic and foreign investors to the diversification of the economy and welfare of the citizens of the country.
Speaking further, Mrs. Mabogunje applauded the disposition and commitment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the promotion of post collaboration between the Lagos State Government and the Organised Private Sector of the State and appreciated his all-inclusive approach to governance.
She further thanked the State Government for its continued support for the Lagos International Trade Fair, especially towards the successful hosting of the Y2021 edition
