We’ve attracted $500m investments into Kaduna, created 100,000 jobs – El-Rufai



Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, has said his government has attracted both local and international investments worth over $500 million into the state in the last three and half years, while creating over 100,000 jobs.


Addressing participants at the opening of the 4th edition of the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KadInvest 4.0) on Wednesday in Kaduna, el-Rufai stated that some of the investments have already became reality and hundreds of thousands of youth are benefiting from them. 


He said the feat was possible because his government was able to make the state investors’ destination.


According to el-Rufai, some of the policies put in place to make the state investors haven is creating condusive atmosphere for business to prosper, adding that his government has put in place a 35-year infrastructural plan to transform the state, backed up by the industrialization plan of the state.


He cited companies like Olam factory, Zaria Feed Mills and the partnership with Dangote conglomerate to revive the comatose Peugeot factory in Kaduna as outcomes of the investment friendly environment.


Speaking on why Investors should invest in Kaduna, Governor el-Rufai said the state was blessed with experienced and educated work force, because it has the highest number of tertiary institutions in the North.


According to the Governor, “KadInvest has become a critical vehicle for driving investments in Kaduna and providing the conducive environment for the private sector to thrive. Through this platform, in the last three and the half years, we have attracted over $500 million in local and foreign investments in this state.


“The investments have generated over 100, 000 jobs. We also have abundant natural resources, large labour force that will provide the required work force. Our state is also investors friendly and a gateway to other Northern states.”


The Kaduna state governor however stated that the government was faced with the challenge of creating better opportunities to match its population, hence the investment drive.


“The biggest challenge we face as a government is job creation. We, therefore, have to come up with numerous policies and reforms that will make Kaduna the first choice of investors in Nigeria. We know we are competing with 35 other states and FCT. We also know we are competing for investable funds around the world. So we have to be better than the best to attract more investments.”
Meanwhile, President Muhannadu Buhari in his message sent to the Summit, commended the state government’s investment drive, hoping that, fruitful Public Private Partnerships and beneficial collaborations that would usher in economic prospenity for the people of Kaduna state and Nigeria would be the outcome of the summit.


“It is my utmost pleasure to once again extend the sincere goodwill and unflinching support of the Federal Govenment of Nigeria to the government and people of Kaduna state, on the occasion of the fourth edition of the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit – Kadinvest 4.0.


“In the past four years, I have closely followed the determined efforts of Kaduna state given the intense global competition for investment funds. Federal Govemment shall accord prionty to the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan across the sub-national level, along with private sectors to help create sustainable jobs and prosperity for our people.


“In line with our eforts to diversity the economy away from undue reliance on oil and gas, as you focus on the theme of Kadinvest 4.0 “Expanding Investment Frontiers,” it is my hope that the Summit will result in additional fruitful Public Private Partnerships and beneficial collaborations that would usher in economic prospenity for the people of Kaduna state and Nigeria at large,” President Buhari said.

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