By MARY RONKE, Ilorin –
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said that he would issue an Executive Order for ease on doing business in the state.
Governor AbdulRazaq stated this on Tuesday when he formally declared open the 8th Kwara Trade Fair in Ilorin.
The trade fair, which was organised by the Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KWACCIMA), drew members of the business community, who are currently displaying their wares.
The governor said the plan of the present administration was to change the status of Kwara among its peers from being a civil service state to a state built on enterprise.
Speaking on the theme: “Trade Beyond Borders”, the governor said his administration was taking a cursory look at issues pertaining to ease of doing business and would soon roll out comprehensive reform for businesses to be stress free.
He said that his administration was preoccupied with building a state that survive on enterprise rather than waiting solely on handout from the federation account.
Governor AbdulRazaq added that the government had invested in infrastructure and provide measures to stimulate the state’s economy which in turn was attracting investors.
According to him, no government can claim to have succeeded without the support of the private sector, and that his administration counts on the private sector to work collaboratively.
The governor commended the private sector owners in the state for creating jobs through their companies and factories.
Governor AbdulRazaq stated that for this reason, the government is investing in infrastructure and opening supportive measures to investors in business.
“In addition to our investment in visual and entertainment economy through the innovation hub and visual arts centre, we are also establishing an industrial park as well as construction of the International conference centre, which will also be an exhibition centre,” he added.
Hajia Fatimah Arinola, the state Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, noted that though trade fairs were held in the past, the eight edition was unique.
She explained that it was driven with the desires for innovation and exposure of the government with its moral and financial support to make it a befitting and qualitative trade of International standard.
She pledged that the fair would continue to be an annual programme.
Earlier in his welcome address, Mr Olalekan Fatai, the KWACCIMA President, commended the governor for moving public sector to private sector and called for the provision of the permanent trade fair stand so as to grow the state economy.
He noted that the state government had demonstrated its readiness to grow the state’s economy.
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