Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has enjoined the Organized Private Sectors to collaborate with the state government to accelerate business growth, create more jobs, and drive economic development in Lagos.
The governor stated this today at the 9th Lagos Corporate Assembly with the theme “Unpacking Barriers to Ease of Doing Business: Accelerating Business Growth” held at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu who spoke through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat said this will help to foster a more conducive and thriving business environment for everyone.
He said “Let us reaffirm our collective commitment to overcoming the barriers to ease of doing business. Let us work together to accelerate business growth, create more jobs, and drive economic development in Lagos State.”
Speaking further, the Governor noted that through the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Development Agenda of his administration, the government is unwavering in its commitment to fostering an environment where businesses can flourish.
He added that the agenda embodies the vision for a Greater Lagos, especially highlighted by the 4th Pillar – M, which focuses on Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, stressing that through the implementation of the agenda, the government has initiated numerous policy reforms to facilitate business operations in Lagos.
Accordingly, his administration is simplifying regulatory processes, improving infrastructure, and leveraging technology to streamline interactions between businesses and government agencies, noting that his administration’s goal is to minimize bureaucratic blockages and create a seamless experience for all businesses operating in the state.
Speaking on the importance of the Lagos Corporate Assembly, the Governor said the Assembly is a testament to his administration’s unwavering commitment to fostering a conducive environment for businesses to thrive in Lagos State.
“Lagos is the economic hub of Nigeria and is home to a diverse and dynamic business community, as such the government sees the Lagos Corporate Assembly as a crucial platform for public-private dialogue, collectively identifies challenges, discusses solutions, and charts a course for sustainable economic growth and development.
“Our resolve is to make the assembly a formidable platform for public-private collaboration, ensuring that your voices are heard and your concerns are addressed promptly. We are determined to turn the feedback we receive from you into actionable policies that will further ease the business environment in Lagos,” he said.
The Governor therefore assures the State Cooperate Organisation of his continued support, as his administration is unreservedly committed to providing the necessary resources, infrastructure, and policies that will ensure their businesses do not only survive but thrive. He noted that the government will continue to engage with them, listen to their needs, and implement reforms that will foster an environment necessary to grow their businesses.
Earlier in her welcome address, Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem stated that the Ministry will continue to collaborate with bilateral and multilateral Chambers of Commerce and Industry to achieve and sustain the objectives of having an enabling environment where doing business in Lagos will be much easier.
Mrs. Ambrose-Medebem disclosed that the Ministry is in the process of constituting an Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Team that will be tasked with interfacing with stakeholders in the business community via a one-stop-shop virtual interface.
She added that the team’s approach will be technology driven to meet the demand of the highly digitised local and global investors community, noting that “The virtual one-stop-shop interface will be enabled with robust connectivity to strategic global business gateways to enhance access to the State for the global business communities.”
According to Ambrose Medebem in recent years, the economy has grown from 27 trillion to 41 trillion naira, adding that the phenomenal growth has been made possible by initiating and implementing deliberate policies and intentional strategies to facilitate the ease of doing business and promoting a conducive environment that continues to attract investments into the State.
