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Mayor of London leads investors to Lagos

By on October 9, 2015

The Mayor of the City of London, Hon. Alan Yarrow, has assured the government and people of Lagos State of the readiness of large number businesses in the United Kingdom to invest in the economy of the state, noting that Lagos, as the commercial capital of the country with its huge population has the potential to pull in investors.

Yarrow stated this while leading a trade delegation to pay a courtesy call on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at his Alausa office, adding that in view of the strategic importance of the state to the Nigerian and African economy, the UK business group would come to the state to identify with the new administration and explore different areas of business collaboration and investment opportunities available.

The Mayor while soliciting the support of the state government in areas of appropriate policies and enabling laws to protect their investment noted that investors are willing to collaborate in the areas of maritime, alternative and renewable energy as well as infrastructural development in the area of health and education.

While responding on behalf of the governor, the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, assured the UK team of the state government’s readiness to welcome business partnership and collaboration from United Kingdom, assuring that the government will continually provide enabling environment for local and foreign investors to flourish.

The deputy dovernor said as part of the government’s resolve to welcome business collaboration from abroad, the governor has established a ministry in charge of overseas affairs, which she said would be a one-stop shop for the needs of investors and provide all necessary logistics support for investors to settle in the state.

“To demonstrate our readiness for you, we have established the ministry of overseas affairs and investment, renamed Lagos Global, where all the needs of investors coming into the state will be attended to from issues of registration, land matters and other support services required”, Adebule added.

She assured the investors that all government policies and laws on business and investment will be strengthened with a view to protecting the investors and ensure adequate return on their investment, while also assuring that the security of lives and properties of Lagosians and visitors to Lagos remain a top priority of the Ambode administration.

In a related development, Governor Ambode has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to be fully committed to improving economic bi-lateral relations hitherto in existence between Nigeria and France.

The governor said this when he received members of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF), led by its Chairman, Perre Gattaz, on a courtesy visit, accompanied by the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gauer, in his office in Alausa, Ikeja.

He said the visit of the team was so important to him because of the realization that both countries share many things in common.

He said there were several economic opportunities that could be mutually beneficial to both countries, adding that language and cultural differences must not be allowed to hamper the relationship.

“Your visit at this period is also important, because of the fact that our country and your country, France, share some traits in common, which I believe would further enhance the economic growth and development of the two countries. Your presence here signifies a paradigm shift,” Ambode said.

The governor also reaffirmed his commitment to create enabling environment for the business to thrive and improve on the ease of doing business in the state.

Earlier, the Chairman of the MEDEF, Perre Gattaz, said he led the team to Lagos to discuss areas of business partnership in the country and especially Lagos state.

He said aside visiting Abuja, the team has been to Eko Atlantic City and many other trade zones to see how they can partner with Lagos, adding that it would be of great advantage if the governor can identify areas of possible collaboration.

Gattaz also expressed readiness to link with Nigeria and particularly Lagos on energy, agriculture, transportation, food production and economy.

 

[ThisDay]