Kaduna seeks sustenance of $2.6bn investments

As Kaduna gears up to host the sixth edition of the annual Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADINVEST), the state government says it was working to consolidate the $2.6bn in investments it had attracted since 2016.
“Kaduna believes that private investment is the best vehicle for job creation, and it is eager to bring together the private sector, international development partners and development finance institutions to identify opportunities in the state and take the investment initiatives that create growth,’’ Umma Aboki, the Executive Secretary of Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA), has said.
She disclosed this at a pre-event press briefing on Wednesday in Kaduna, adding that the summit had been slated for Sept. 23 to 24 under the theme, ”Towards a sustainable knowledge-based economy”.
Aboki said the short term goal of the summit was to “deliver on job creation, inclusive economic growth, socio-economic transformation and improvement in the quality of life, through higher productivity and competitiveness. ‘’
The summit’s long–term goal, on the other hand, include: ‘’investment in public-private partnerships, agro-allied industries, railways, road transport, hospitality and retail”, she added.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that this year’s event ‘’ will again showcase and promote Kaduna State to domestic and international spectators, as a major investment destination in Africa, including the state’s tourist attractions.’’
She disclosed that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would be the Special Guest at the event, while two distinguished personalities, Prof. Celestin Monga, a visiting professor of Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and the President of the African Export-Import Bank, Dr Benedict Okey Oramah, would be the summit’s keynote speakers.
The Dangote Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (DPAN) Limited and the Tomato Factory, Jos would also be commissioned during the two-day event, alongside the signing of Mutual Accountability Framework with Development partners, she said.
In a similar vein, she added that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai would commission the Galaxy Mall and Kasuwan Magani market, as well as launch the Kaduna State’s Tourism Catalogue at the event.
“Unlike the previous editions though, this year’s edition will feature a hybrid event, with attendance being both physical and virtual.
”Either way, participants are expected to register first via the KADINVEST website at: https://kadinvest.org/register/’’, she added.
Justifying the choice of this year’s theme, Aboki said: ‘’in an era where information is key, building one’s economy with knowledge as the backbone, is the best way towards achieving a responsive, innovative and resilient economy, especially after the global exploits of COVID-19.’’
She said that deliberations at the summit were expected to focus and revolve around four plenaries: “COVID-19 and digitization: Building an ecosystem for Kaduna MSME e-Commerce”; “AfCFTA: Opportunities transforming the agricultural sector of Kaduna state”, “The role of data in investments”; and “The role of donor agencies”.
“A learning economy is an ever changing and innovative one, which boosts economic flexibility and adaptability, especially in these turbulent times, Aboki added.
The KADIPA executive secretary further said that knowledge had become a critical requirement for enhancing competitiveness of countries, businesses and individuals in the 21st century.
She recalled that the five previous editions of KADINVEST had brought about various developments that the state was currently experiencing and benefitting from, including improvements in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), placing first amongst states in Ease of Doing Business, generating active investor interest and industrialization of the state.
The Executive Secretary added that some other benefits accruing to the state from previous editions of the summit were massive infrastructural development, promotion of public-private partnerships and privatization.