NAN-HE-26
Business
By Alex Anayo Enebeli
Enugu, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Enugu State Government has approved the establishment of a one-stop investment center for business promotion and sustainability.
Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi announced the plan in Enugu on Tuesday during the presentation of the Enugu Business Agenda by the Coalition of Business and Professional Association (ECOBPA) and the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE).
Ugwuanyi said that agencies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission, customs, immigration, ministry of land and Nigeria Investment Promotion Council would be brought under one roof to minimise the hardship in doing business.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Sam Nwobodo, noted that such engagement would help to promote, sustain and coordinate various business activities in the state.
He said that it would also boost the internally-generated revenue of the state and the diversification of the economy.
Ugwuanyi announced that from next year, the government would reform its tax and traffic laws to create a friendly environment for businesses to thrive.
While commending the coalition on the business agenda, the governor promised to partner with it to implement some of its recommendations.
Earlier, the Project Consultant of CIPE, USA, Mr Matthew Kalu, presented eight critical business issues that affected the business environment in the state as well as recommendations for consideration and implementation by the government.
Kalu listed some of the areas to include indiscriminate clamping of vehicles without provision of motor parks, abuse by the state waste management agency and high cost of commercial rents.
They also include difficulty in acquiring certificates of occupancy, multiple taxation, security challenges and extortion for fertiliser procurement.
Kalu urged the government to implement its recommendations, pointing out that until the problems were tackled, doing businesses in the state would not thrive.
The Chairman of the occasion and Chief Executive Officer of Auto Star Ltd, Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, urged the government to encourage local investors by granting tax exemptions to those that employed more than 10 workers.
In his remark, the President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Pastor Ugo Chime, said that ECOBPA was set up by the chamber to bring businesses and professionals together to improve the environment for investors. (NAN)
AAE/MNA/MVO
(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Mbadiwe Okwor)