Okowa Woos South African Investors

In his determination to boost the revenue base of Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, has assured investors in the tourism sector of favourable environment to tap into the state’s rich tourism potentials.

Speaking yesterday when the Consul-General of South Africa to Nigeria, Ambassador Sam Mobaisa, paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba, Governor Okowa said investors, especially, South Africans were welcomed to Delta State, assuring that the enabling environment has been created for investment to thrive.

While conceding that the dwindling revenue from oil has made Nigeria to start looking at other sources of revenue, Governor Okowa reiterated that Delta State was richly blessed and investors were welcomed in the tourism and other sectors of the economy.

He commended South Africans for their interests in investing in the state, especially in the area of commerce which has led to a functional Shoprite in Warri while another was being constructed in Asaba.

“We appreciate you (Consul -General) for encouraging South African companies to come to Delta State, we will be glad to receive them because the hospitality industry itself will help boost our economy and help to unite our two countries as Delta State is a crucial part of the country’s economy,” he said, adding, “we will be glad to have this investment come to our state, we are truly ready to consolidate on our warm relationship with South Africa.”

He reiterated, “Nigeria and South Africa are leading in Africa and I believe that working together in partnership will make the continent stronger and there is a lot for us to gain as a state.”

“For us as a state, we desire to develop our people and to provide enabling environment for investments to thrive because we believe that it is only through the inflow of investment and the growth of industries that we can truly provide employment for our people, but, beyond that, we have already started some programmes to engage and empower our youths through agriculture and skill acquisition programmes because, we know that the only way we can achieve sustainable peace is to ensure that our youths are meaningfully engaged,” he said, noting, “for a very long time, we have depended on oil and I think that as a nation, we have to find means to diversify our economy and in so doing, we need investors flowing into the country and to that extent, we as a state are trying to establish three industrial parks across the three senatorial districts of the state.”

Earlier, Ambassador Mobaisa had said South Africans were happy to be doing business in Delta State, observing that the Mandela Garden of 95 Trees established in Asaba has strengthened the ties between Delta State and South Africa.

While commending the government and people of Delta State for the enabling environment which has led to the establishment of Shoprite in the state, the Consul-General disclosed that there are South African investors who were also interested in investing in tourism and commerce who will be visiting the state.