From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Executive Secretary, Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency(KADIPA), Malam Khalil Nur Khalil has said that despite insecurity bedeviling the State, investors have continued to troop to the state to make enormous investments.
Malam Khalil said investors love for Kaduna was based on the fact of government’s policy on ease of doing business in the state, and the state’s capacity to curtail security challenges.
He said the mission of the Board and management is to make it a world class investment promotion agency that attracts investors across the globe.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday to mark his one year in office, the Executive Secretary said that some of the initiatives of the Board and Management have been fruitful.
“When we talk of challenges facing investors, it is the issue of insecurity, power supply, infrastructures and the likes. Kaduna state have gone a long way in tackling security challenges in the state. We all know the efforts the state government have been making to mitigate insecurity. You could see security strategies across Kaduna-Abuja highways.
“What Kaduna state has done is by creating the ministry of internal security and home affairs, and it is the only ministry in the country that does quarterly security briefing and give security situation”. Khalil said.
He said that KADIPA has joined the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies(IPA) to see what other members are doing, explore capacity building opportunities and the networking opportunities in the World Investment Conference.
According to him, KADIPA surpassed its 2022 set target of $500 million worth of investments in the first quarter and the Board increased the investment portfolio to $1 billion.
‘’Investment figures for the 2nd Quarter 2022 tallied at $36 million worth of actualized investments in various sectors across the LGAs in the state.
’We recorded $112.7 million in announced pledges bringing the 2nd quarter figures to a total of $148.7 million, thereby increasing the state’s total investment Portfolio to $4.35 billion, representing a 3.6% growth for the quarter. The chief objective for all these is job creation,’’ he added.
Malam Khalil also said that KADIPA ‘’ facilitated the investments of 18 companies and recommended them to KADGIS for land allocation. We handed over sites to investors in Kubau LGA, the Kangimi Layout, GAAIZ, Rabah Link Road and the Afaka layout, all of which have mobilized to site.’’
“Furthermore, KADIPA has assisted the state in generating revenues of N236.6 million through payments of premiums by greenfield investors that have been allocated land and brownfield investments via payments received from the privatization of State owned assets,’’ he added.
The 28-year old Executive Secretary, expressed gratitude to Governor Nasir El Rufai for believing in the capacity of the youths, just as he thanked the Deputy Governor of Kaduna state and Chair of the KADIPA Board, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, and the Vice Chairman, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, for their support, advice and direction to the agency.
Similarly, Malam Khalil expressed gratitude to his predecessors for their efforts, the Commissioner of Business, Innovation and Technology, Professor Kabir Mato, the Local Organising Committee of KadInvest 7.0 as well as the management and staff of KADIPA for making the last KadInvest successful.
Khalil listed the initiatives that KADIPA embarked on that enabled its achievements in the last one year.
“Similarly, we organized Peer Learning Sessions with South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda, and DFID-LINKS Due Diligence Workshop. We are actively looking for opportunities to learn.
“We deployed promotional materials including flyers with QR codes to our publications. We printed and made these available to investors. Our marketing of Industrial Zones and layouts of the two Industrials Zones and various approved layouts has remained consistent across social media platforms,’’ he said.
The ES pointed out that KADIPA’s renewed investment drive encourages creativity, adding that ‘’this is why our investor targeting has been deliberate and strategic.
According to him, ‘’we regularly engage embassies, developmental agencies for partnership and capacity building initiatives.
“To promote networking amongst businesspersons in the state, we organize quarterly Business World Breakfast where we meet with business people in the state and listen to their challenges.
“And to ensure that business in the state are retained and encouraged to expand, we carryout weekly AfterCare services, where we visit businesses within the state to hear their challenges and understand areas the Kaduna State Government can help remove encumbrances,’’ he added.
The Executive Secretary recalled that the recently held 7th edition of Kaduna State Economic and Investment Summit(KadInvest 7.0) was successful.
“We launched the Kaduna Livestock Regulatory Authority (KADLRA) Regulations. The Ginger Investment Policy and Strategic Framework GIPS (GIZ). And the Film Village Project, with the signing of MoU with KADCCIMA and KDSG on using the trade fair complex by the creative art sector,’’ he said.
Khalil recalled that Governor Nasir El Rufai also commissioned eight projects, including the N2 billion Falgates Foods’ Rice Mill with 100, 000 metric ton capacity per annum located at Sobawa, Rigachikun.
According to him, the governor also commissioned the AFEX’s Aggregation and Processing Centre, an agricultural commodity warehouses and multi-grains processing plant, to help farmers in the state prepare and market their produce.
A computerized vehicle inspection services center located at Mando, which provides automated checks for all vehicle types was also commissioned, he recalled.
In addition, El Rufai also commissioned the Kaduna Galaxy Mall, ‘’a multipurpose shopping mall that houses food courts and cinemas for Kaduna residents to shop and have a good time,’’ he said.
“Ammsco Neighborhood Centre, which has shopping mall and food court, was also commissioned by His Excellency”. Khalil added.