Delta State Government has pledged its readiness to partner with prospective investors that will help the state develop its potential.
Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Hon Samuel Oligida, gave the assurance when he played host to a delegation of Netherlands investors led by environmental rights activist, Comrade Sunny Ofehe in his office at Prof Chike Edozien State Secretariat Complex, Asaba, the state capital.
While addressing the delegation, the Trade and Investment Commissioner, Hon Samuel Oligida said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is in a hurry to attract greater development to the state, especially the rural and coastal areas.
Hon Oligida stated that Delta State had always been an investor destination, assuring the visiting Netherlands visitors that the state government would be willing to render whatever assistance needed to drive the success of their investment in the state.
The Trade and Investment Commissioner who assumed office on Wednesday, less than twenty-four hours before the visit, expressed delight over the the meeting, stressing that the Oborevwori‘s administration would be accommodative to any investors that mean well for the state.
He said the state has enough land space to accommodate investments of any capacity, including those in the tourism industry, even as it continues to create a business-friendly environment in the state.
Hon Oligida who received the investors alongside the Permanent Secretary in charge of the Ministry, Mrs Anthonia Ubogu, urged the team to come out with a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU for appraisal and other related formalities.
The Trade and Investment Commissioner explained that the MoU would enable the state government to know what role it expected to play in the process, emphasizing that the Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori would not hesitate to key into any arrangement that would bring more infrastructural development to the state.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Sunny Ofehe said that a consortium of Chief Executive Officers and investors from the Netherlands had declared interest in partnering with the state government in several areas including security and flood management, sports development, the health, maritime and energy sectors.
Ofehe noted that the Netherlands have the means and technical expertise to drive sustainable road construction, establishment of dry dock, modular refinery and sporting projects.
He said there would be a comprehensive MoU on the expected partnership, explaining that because of the time and effort involved in negotiating and drafting an effective document, the MoU would be ready by October this year.
Ofehe urged the state government to open its door for negotiation and communication as well as ensure the security of investors and their investment in the state.
“We’re here to get government willingness to strike a partnership. Once we get that, we will proceed to outline specific points of understanding. It will be two or three-page documents that will describe the specific project on which we all will agree, and detail each party’s roles and responsibilities.
“We have institutions in the Netherlands and Caribbean to take care of the funding but where we can’t get 100 percent funding we will need counterpart funding from the state government”. Ofehe said.
On the visiting team were Mr. Drederik Bos, from the Netherlands, Prof Ernst Franzek, Germany, Mr. Niels Ducaat, Netherlands, Mr Jacobus Van Wissen, Netherlands and Joanna Chizomam Nwamadi, Netherland as well as Joe Ogbodu, head media.
