Delta to establish Investment Development Agency- Gov. Okowa

By Ovasa Ogaga

The Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has said that the Delta State Investment Development Agency would soon be established to harness investment potentials in the state.

Okowa stated this when he received on courtesy visit the Swiss Consular General, His Excellency Yves Nicolet, Monday in Asaba; added that the state Investment Development Agency amendment Bill was before the House Of Assembly and would be passed in the next few weeks.

He explained that the agency would liaise with the organised private sector, embassies and investors the world over to utilise the investment opportunities and grow the state economy.

“We will soon establish the Delta state Investment Development Agency whose Amendment Bill is before the House of Assembly and will be passed within the next few weeks.

“The agency will liaise with the organised private sector, embassies, investors from around the world to improve bi-lateral and investment relationship in the state”, the governor said.

Governor Okowa explained that given the recent financial challenges facing the country due to dwindling oil price, the state has embarked on the diversification of its economy through the agricultural sector using commercial farmers and other farmers on the ground.

According to him, “in the next few years, they will act as a pivot to aggregate our output, export our produce, improve our revenue and the life of the peasant farmers.”

The Governor also commended the Consular-General on the visit and assured him of the state readiness to partner with Swiss companies and investors to develop the state economy stressing that Delta is the Economic hub of the South- South region..

Earlier, His Excellency, Yves Nicolet told Governor Okowa that he was in the state to explore its economic potentials stressing that the Swiss Government was interested in improving the bi-lateral trade relationship with Nigeria and diversify its investments to other states apart from Lagos.