KWSG canvasses for more entrepreneurial activities
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By Daniel Ayantoye
The Kwara state government has called on all business owners to take advantage of its various initiatives put in place to develop and expand their businesses in the state.
The Commissioner of Commerce and Cooperatives, Ahmed Rifun Speaking at Kwara Live International Business Summit organised by the Virtual Global Impression Ltd (VGI) in Ilorin yesterday stressed that the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has put in place strategies to ensure businesses in the state to thrive. He stated that Micro Small scale enterprise account for about two-thirds of total employment in developing countries and also contribute about 50 per cent to the GDP in developed countries.
The commissioner disclosed that plans are in place to commence a five-year tax relief regime for business owners in other to promote economic growth and ensure development in the state.
“I assure you that the Kwara State government has not introduced new taxes in the state. Rather we have succeded in blocking leakages in the revenue collection system through the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) thereby increasing the internally generated revenue (IGR).”
Earlier in his address, the Managing director of VGI Job Moses explained that the launching of the Business directory is inline with the commemoration of Kwara at 50. He emphasised that it is hardcopy version which avail prospective customers the opportunity to locate business in the state with convenience.
According to him over 27,000 businesses in the state are already online and also available in hard copies. He added that, the initiative is determined to bring business to limelight.
The event featured presentation of certificate to students who had earlier written scholarship examination, a raffle draw, trade fair and presentation from various organization such as Google representative, Standard organization of Nigeria (SON), Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and host of others.