By Mike Adeyemi
The Kwara State Government on Thursday inaugurated a 12-member Ease of Doing Business Council to drive its efforts to lift bureaucratic bottleneck as well as attract new investment to the state.
The inauguration which took place at the Deputy Governor’s office has in attendance the state Commissioner for Finance, Florence Oyeyemi, Commissioner for Enterprise, Abdulwahab Agbaje, Commissioner for works, Rotimi Iliasu and the Group Managing Director, Harmony Holdings, Abdullahi Abdulmajeed among others.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi said the Kwara State Government has taken a bold step to achieve the objective of identifying and eliminating constraints in growth of business.
“As you are all aware, Kwara Ease of Doing Business Report 2020 recommended the use of Digital Resources, Geographic Information System(GIS) Data and Information Technology to drive business activities of selected MDAs that are pertinent to attracting investment in the state.
“The responsibility of your council as the apex authority include driving the president enabling business reforms policy in the state, in addition to overseeing the implementation of the state Ease of Doing Business report,” Alabi said.
He added, “The council will also be responsible for the creation of the State Ease of Doing Business Reform framework and charter.
“You are to see to its diligent implementation among other critical activities required to enhance the enabling business climate of the state.
“This is in line with the policy thrust of His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRaham AbdulRasaq led administration. It will interest you to note that your choice of chairman and members of Kwara state Ease of Doing Business is premised on your track records, hard work, and dedication to the cause of the present administration,” he further said.
Speaking in a chat with this medium on the development, a member of the committee who is also the Chairman, Kwara State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Agriculture (KWACCIMA), Dr. Ahmed Raji, said the mandate of the committee in the short run is to step up rate to woo investors to the state.
“Part of our duty is to see how to beef up the rate of doing business, woo investors to the state and create an enabling environment for business to thrive.
“If Kaduna State can be rated first on the log of ease of doing business, why not Kwara State. By next month we will fashion out the road map for the committee, “Raji disclosed.
