Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday called for more private sector investment in the state to create jobs and increase productivity, even as the 10-day 2013 Lagos International Trade Fair came to an end amid fanfare.
The governor lauded the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI) for successfully organising the international event, which he described as the flagship of trade and business expositions in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the fair held at the Tafawa Balewa Square tagged: "Lagos State Day," which marks the highpoint of the annual trade fair, Fashola said attraction of more investors in the state is necessary for the state to achieve its dream of becoming Africa's model megacity by 2015.
Commending the LCCI under the current leadership of Mr. Goodie Ibru, Fashola said the state government will continue to facilitate the creation of a business environment conducive to private sector investments.
Governor Fashola, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Olusola Oworu, described the theme of this year's fair as apt, saying the theme will further underscore his administration's commitment to leverage on effective private sector linkages to ultimately create wealth and promote economic development.
The governor assured of continuous development of strategies that will help the state harness public and private investments.
Meanwhile, participants, especially traders and owners of businesses, expressed mixed feelings about the trade fair.
While some blamed the poor patronage they experienced on the relocation of the trade fair to Lagos Island, other commended government for it.
They, however, decried the amount paid to get a square metre of space where their stands were located, saying they paid N8, 000 per square metre, the amount many of them claimed was too high compared to the level of patronage.
Meanwhile, the LCCI have attributed the large number of local and international participants at the fair to the remarkable growth of investors' confidence in the Nigerian economy.
The chamber's President, Goodie Ibru, also noted that in spite of the evident limitations of the business environment and the state of infrastructure and facilities at the venue, the fair can still be adjudged as successful, because all participants enjoyed rewarding business interactions during the 10- day event.
He commended their courage, resilience and optimism, while hoping that governments at all levels, would address the numerous impediments to private sector development in the country, especially with regards to infrastructure, security, quality of institutions and funding.
He pointed out that this was not the time for us to take a back seat in the race to exploit opportunities offered by the emergence of global and foreign markets, stressing that it was rather a time for us to reposition and equip ourselves to leverage on the boundless opportunities at our disposal.