… Woos American Investors

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, has been described as a State with the warmest welcome in Africa. The State Governor, said to stated this in Washington DC, United states while wooing a group of American investors.

Governor Imoke, who was among six Nigerian Governors who made presentations on “Nigeria: Business, Investment, Development Opportunities”, at a Business Forum, organised by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in conjunction with Africare and the Constituency of Africa (CFA), stated that Cross River State was strategically positioned to receive investments and investors.

In his presentation titled “The New Nigeria: Business, Investment and Development opportunities in Cross River state”, Senator Imoke took the audience through the features that make Cross River State unique.

Among the things he mentioned include the natural endowment of the State in mineral and natural resources as well as Timber and Non-timber forests resources among others.

He stated that his administration is reform minded and forward looking, with a deliberate focus on Agriculture, Rural Development Urban Renewal programme, Health, Education, Human Capacity building and Tourism, and as such has placed emphasis on infrastructural development across the State.

The reforms he noted have ensured a significant support from the development partners in the past few years.

Senator Liyel Imoke said Cross River State’s Economy is fairly diverse and rate of returns on investments in most sectors, including agro processing is still quite high at around 30%, adding that the current growth rate of the State is slightly above the national average.

With a peaceful, clean and serene environment, coupled with the vibrant legal and regulatory environment to support the private sector, Cross River State Senator Imoke noted was primed and ready for investments.

He also talked about some major projects embarked upon by the state, aimed at positioning it as a leading service economy in Nigeria, among them, the Tinapa knowledge city, the two beds Tertiary health facility and the Calabar International Conference Center (CICC).

The event which former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Sanders gave the opening and overview also featured Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, Gabriel Suswam of Benue, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, and also took presentations from the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), IFC, US Export-Import Bank, and the US Dept of Agriculture.