KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) — The Export-Import Bank of Malaysia (Exim Bank) is looking to facilitate Malaysian contractors who are interested to take up construction jobs in Ogun State, Nigeria.
Chief Operating Officer Wan Zalizan Wan Jusoh said Ogun is very keen to bring Malaysian elements such as Putrajaya to the state and it is inviting Malaysian contractors to help it to build the infrastructure.
“When Malaysian contractors are interested to take up a job there (Ogun), we are willing to facilitate their investment in the country,” he told reporters after a luncheon talk with Ogun Governor Ibikunle Amosun here Wednesday.
Among the mega infrastructure projects that are being lined up in the state include Abeokuta City Centre and MTR City, which is modelled after Malaysia’s administrative capital, Putrajaya.
The urban renewal project was mooted to be the first of its kind in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
Meanwhile, Amosun said apart from infrastructure, the state is also wooing Malaysian investors in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors.
He said located next to Nigeria’s commercial capital city, Lagos, the state has good linkages and network especially to rural communities, abundant waterways and coastal line, fertile land and natural distribution hub.
With a population of over five million, he said human resources are abundant and there are good political will to transform the state into a developed area.
Amosun said Ogun has a wide range of agriculture products which provide numerous investment opportunities.
He said among the state’s agriculture products are cassava, rice, oil palm, cotton, cocoa, maize, sugar cane, cocoyam, pineapple, citrus, cashew cola nut, bamboo, vegetables and rubber as well as poultry and animal rearing. The state also hosts eight farm settlements and 14 farm estates, he added.
On manufacturing, he said there are eight industrial estates in the states which has good road connections, communication networks, electricity and other basic infrastructure.
He said Ogun also has three free trade zones, three industrial parks, three technology incubation centres and a deep seaport.
“Many people are unaware of the investment opportunity in our region. We have put in place friendly and sector-specific investment incentives and policies,” he said.
The luncheon, organised by Exim Bank, was aimed at facilitating productive dialogue between Malaysian business community and the delegates as part of its effort to enhance business opportunities in Ogun.
It was attended by public and private sectors, local business communities and ministry representatives from Ogun.
— BERNAMA
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