The Kaduna State Government on Tuesday said its investment drive and economic reforms, which were launched in 2015, have attracted both local and foreign investments into the state worth over $4.3bn in the last six years, despite the security challenges bedevilling the state,IgbereTV reports
This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA), Mr Nur Khalil during an economic meeting with local and foreign investors as well as small-scale business operators.
“In the first quarter, we were able to expand about $1.1 billion despite the security challenges. So we are now up to $4.2 billion in the investment portfolio of the state,” he said.
“We have created a lot of jobs. The Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state has also increased by $100,000. It is mostly agriculture; a lot of investments are coming from mostly agriculture, especially among the layouts we have created.”
Khalil also reiterated the commitment of the state government to improving the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kaduna.
As a result of this, the State House of Assembly recently passed the bill of the Kaduna Enterprise Development Agency to show its commitment.
Also speaking at the event, the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, assured members of the business community of an enabling environment to do their businesses.
She stated that the state government has been maintaining its position as the first subnational government in the ease of doing business.
Kaduna is the third most populous state in the country, after Kano and Lagos. It is also one of the leading states in most agricultural revolutions such as maize ginger, sorghum, and tomatoes as well as home to many textile industries, even though some of them are moribund presently.
