Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state has said the state designated Green Economic Zone (GEZ) was aimed at attracting investors and creating job opportunities for its people.
He said in spite of the security challenges, the state has never relented in its commitment to attract investors and support the private sector to create jobs and develop the state, noting that the state has been consistent in promoting the ease of doing business, fast tracking approvals and reinforcing its credentials as a business-friendly state.
Addressing a ground breaking ceremony at the Green Economic Zone along Kaduna Jos Road on Tuesday, el-Rufai noted, ‘’as an industrial park, the Green Economic Zone will attract firms in the light manufacturing sector.
“The N15b project, which is a collaboration between Kaduna state government and KK Kingdom, will provide critical infrastructure to boost investments in the manufacturing sector, create jobs and reduce poverty in the state. Such firms will create jobs as they industrialise the state, transfer skills and boost the internally generated revenues of the state.
“The partnership will build on the facilities that we have already provided such as the power substation. The collaboration with KK Kingdom is the sort of public-private partnership that Kaduna state government constantly seeks for the development of Kaduna state.
‘’We expect KK Kingdom to complete the provision of roads, water reticulation, fibre optics and other infrastructure in the Green Economic Zone so that firms can begin operating there within the next two years,’’ he said. This ground breaking complements the progress being recorded in our other industrial park, the Green Agro Allied Industrial Zone (GAAIZ).
“Firms like Olam, OCP of Morocco which produces fertiliser and Dangote-Peugeot Assembly plant have already established their presence in GAAIZ. As a state government, we create jobs where we can but we support the private sector to create many jobs, and thereby help fight poverty and contribute to state revenues.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA) Umma Aboki said, “the Green Economic Zone (GEZ) is one of two industrial parks designated by the Malam Nasir el-Rufai administration as part of its strategic intent to fast track the industrialisation of the state and attract more investments.
“The government has already built a power substation to service the GEZ which is sited on 717 hectares of land strategically located on the Kaduna-Jos road. The park will create immediate jobs. The objective of GEZ is to provide a safe, secure and eco-friendly environment for firms in the light manufacturing sector.
‘’GEZ is an industrial park designed to provide a “plug and play” facility for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to enable them operate competitively. GEZ will help firms to establish their manufacturing plants more efficiently and reduce their cost of doing business.’’
