Business
Bayelsa Stems Obstacles To Investment
The Bayelsa State Invest
ment Promotion Agency (BIPA) says it has reduced bottlenecks of potential investors by establishing a one-stop-shop for businessmen to tap into the abundant natural resources in the state.
The Director-General BIPA, Ms Freda Murray-Bruce, told newsmen yesterday in Yenagoa that the one-stop shop had commenced operations.
Murray–Bruce said that the agency had become a dependable port of call for local and foreign investors seeking to harness available natural resources in various sectors.
According to her, the sectors are agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, housing, education and aviation.
Others are health, information and communications technology and manufacturing, among others.
The BIPA DG said that one stop shop had simplified, shorten procedures and guidelines for issuance of business approvals, permits and authorisations.
She said that the BIPA had adopted an investment facilitation strategy where relevant government agencies were being brought to one location, coordinated and streamlined to facilitate business processes.
“The aim is to provide prompt, efficient and transparent services to investors thereby eliminating bureaucracy often experienced by investors in business procedures and processes.
“We are able to achieve this due to collaboration with other Federal Government investment agencies such Corporate Affair Commission (CAC), Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Custom Service, among others.
“The collaboration has been successful with participating agencies maintaining existing mandates and responsibilities within the structure of the one-stop shop arrangement of BIPA,” Murray-Bruce said.
Murray-Bruce urged potential investors to exploit investment opportunities in the state, assuring them of conducive business environment and attractive returns on investment.