From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has declared open a three days Gombe State Investment Summit with over 200 investors from across the country and beyond as participants.
Declaring the event open at the Gombe International Conference Centre, the governor disclosed that the summit was aimed at attracting investors and harnessing the business potential of the state.
According to him, throughout its history, Gombe has captured the imagination of traders, business caravans, and enterprising wanderers from within and outside Nigeria because of its position boosted by its strategic location at the center of the north-east subregion and proximity to neighboring countries around the Lake Chad basin.
“We have the largest deposits of gypsum and limestone in the country, abundant deposits of uranium, as well as other precious minerals.
“Gombe is also blessed with huge commercial deposits of coal, oil, and gas while our agricultural products like cotton, ground nut, rice, etc command great value due to their high quality.
“So far, I am satisfied with the responses from investors and the business community. Hundreds of investors have expressed interest to operate from the industrial park, and many more are willing.
“It is worthy of note that providing an enabling environment for businesses is more than just enacting business reforms. For them to make the desired impacts, such reforms must succeed in reducing the duration, cost, and procedure of starting and operating a business. It is to this end that we developed and implemented policies and programs geared towards simplifying the registration of businesses, harmonizing taxation,” he said.
He added that in the course of the summit, they will sign memoranda of understanding with some leading local and international brands to tap into the amazing potential that abounds in the state.