In a move to harmonise

taxes in the state, the Rivers State Government says it is setting up a one-stop-centre that would act as a clearing house for all taxes with a view to encouraging investors in the state.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Chukuma Chinye stated this is his office on Tuesday when he received the South African High Commission delegation, on a trade mission to the state.

According to the Commissioner, the government has set up a committee to harmonise multiple taxes and illegal extortions by fake agencies, saying that tax is a law and any tax that is not backed by law is illegal. He said that there is a tax bill before the Rivers State House of Assembly aimed at creating a harmonized tax regime in the state.

The Commissioner reiterated that it takes less than three weeks to receive necessary documents relating to land acquired for business investment in Rivers State and that there is a bill before the House of Assembly prohibiting any body or persons demanding any form of money other than the amount paid for land acquisition.

He stated that the industrial policy of the state is geared towards creating enabling environment through infrastructural development, massive road rehabilitation network, security of lives and property and improvement of power supply, assuring that by the end of next year the 400 megawatt of electricity needed in the state would be achieved. He added that the state is aspiring to grow an independent economy where cluster of businesses would be created with adequate power supply and leverage some level of technology transfer.

The Commissioner stated that Port Harcourt is very safe for business to thrive and that  what was lacking is an enterprise culture, political will and investment information. He said that there are business and investment opportunities in tourism, oil/gas, petrochemical and agricultural sectors.

Earlier, the Counsellor Economic, Southern African High Commission, Nicholas Coleman, said they came to rub minds and identify with the State government on the need to promote business and identify available opportunities in trade and investment in both countries.

His words: “We can do more on economic interaction between the two countries and we are here to learn new areas of investments, partnership, equity and bonds”.

Representing the President, Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr Amina Asimiea, said that the government has done much to encourage business investment and that PHCCIMA has aligned with government to boost investment in the state.

He noted that in every business sector there are broad spectrum of businesses and opportunities for investment, saying that South African intention is in tandem with Nigeria’s business aspirations.

The Chairman, Rivers/Bayelsa State Branch of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mrs E. E. Akpan, charged South African firms to establish an assembly plan in Nigeria to alleviate the rate of unemployment in the country and transfer technology, noting that there are a lot of agric experts in South Africa that can come to boost the sector in Nigeria rather than make Nigeria a dumping ground for finished products.