L-R: Chairman of Yongxing Steel Company, Lin Qiantao; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and Managing Director of Yongxing Steel Company, Zhang Xiang Hai, during the Edo Economic Summit on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Global Chambers of Commerce and Associations Conference, in Fuzhou, China.

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Governor Obaseki takes Edo Economic Summit to China

By Babeeta Eshieshi

November 27, 2023

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has continued his foreign investment drive, rallying investors to invest in new frontiers and expand their businesses in the State with over 180 investors in attendance.

The governor, on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Global Chambers of Commerce and Associations Conference, in Fuzhou, China, held an Economic Summit, to woo more investors into Edo State in line with the government’s vision to drive economic growth and sustainability.

Fuzhou is the largest city in Fujian Province where, coincidentally, the majority of the Chinese companies operating in Edo State are headquartered.

The governor at the forum showcased the impactful reforms and programmes implemented by his administration over the past seven years to attract and retain investments.

L-R: Chairman of Yongxing Steel Company, Lin Qiantao; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and Managing Director of Yongxing Steel Company, Zhang Xiang Hai, during the Edo Economic Summit on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Global Chambers of Commerce and Associations Conference, in Fuzhou, China.

He noted that the reforms and programmes have impacted the civil and public service, education, healthcare, infrastructure, transport, agriculture, technology, and social welfare sectors of the State’s economy, placing the State as a frontier State for economic expansion.

According to him, “These initiatives encompass streamlining bureaucracy, implementing business-friendly policies, ensuring the availability of raw materials and energy, and fostering the development of the skilled workforce necessary for these enterprises.”

Obaseki noted that Edo State has a fast-growing reputation as the energy and petrochemical hub of Nigeria which is a big attraction to potential Chinese investors with prospects of affordable gas exploration, urging the investors to take advantage of the business-friendly environment and other incentives provided by his administration to invest in new frontiers and expand their businesses in the State.