By Daniel-Nwosu Nohunwan Lucy
The Edo State Government has intensified efforts to attract foreign investment and accelerate industrial growth, as the Commissioner for Business, Trade and Investment, Hon. Omoh Anabor, called for deeper collaboration during visits to the Chinese Embassy and the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.
Speaking during the engagement at the Chinese Embassy in Abuja, Hon. Anabor said the state had formally reached out to key diplomatic and trade partners to strengthen bilateral cooperation and scale up investments. He noted that Edo’s strategic location—linking Nigeria’s eastern, northern, and western corridors—positions it as a prime destination for business, supported by investor-friendly policies, tax incentives, and streamlined processes.
The Commissioner, who visited major Chinese industrial hubs such as Shanghai and Guangzhou, said Edo aims to replicate similar technological and industrial advancements through strategic partnerships.
He identified agro-processing, solid minerals, power generation, and manufacturing as priority sectors, highlighting the state’s rich agricultural resources, including cassava, palm produce, plantain, and pineapple, which offer strong potential for both local processing and export.
Anabor further disclosed that Governor Monday Okpebholo is driving extensive development across the state, particularly in road construction, infrastructure, and power, alongside efforts to revive moribund industries.
He revealed that a 100-megawatt electricity licence has been granted to CCETC to support industrial expansion, while investors are being encouraged to explore opportunities across the energy value chain.
He assured prospective partners of adequate security, access to land, and direct government support, including expedited approvals, noting that the administration’s vision is anchored on the SHINE 5-Point Agenda—Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources, and Education.
Responding, the Minister Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Abuja, Mr. Wang Yingqi, welcomed the initiative, describing Nigeria as China’s largest economic and trade partner in Africa. He expressed optimism about expanding cooperation beyond the federal level to states and local governments, emphasizing that such partnerships would create jobs and enhance infrastructure development.
Wang also disclosed plans to strengthen engagement through the embassy’s consular office in Lagos and mobilize both public and private investors to explore opportunities in Edo State.
In a related visit to the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in Abuja, Permanent Secretary Dr. Chris O. Isokpunwu commended the Edo State Government’s initiatives, particularly in promoting and empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through SMEDAN.
He acknowledged the state’s strategic efforts to position itself for global exports and assured that the ministry would provide the necessary support within its mandate.
