By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

THE Edo State Government  has concluded plans to fine tune its industrial policy in order to boost industrilaisation in the State. The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, disclosed this when he conducted a delegation from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, to inspect 108 hectares of land belonging to the State government proposed for industrial Park in the state.  The facility is located along Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City.

Ihonvbere said:  “This is a launch pad for the industrialisation agenda of the Comrade Governor. With this kind of land becoming an industrial park, we will make Edo great again. The challenge would be to develop the proposal and make it easy for the Governor to have an overview of the plan and when investors come to us, we then know what to tell them and where to give them.

There is a company coming from China that wants to do vehicle assembling in Edo state. I have no doubt that the whole idea will create job, increase productivity and real income. The proposal will declare your intention to the Comrade Governor.”

But the state government said it had a strategic plan running through 2016.”

“A section of the strategic plan deals with industrial policy. The planwhich goes on to 2016 is such that any other government that comes will have a flow in and continue from there and can also adjust what needs to be adjusted,” he said.

As for the technical committee on the industrial policy, Ihonvbere said, “I think we can work on that, we can get some people from your side and from our side to look at the policy positions of government and fine tune it and see where we go. Discussions are also on going with those who want to build multi-layer parking lots.

“Given the work of the Comrade Governor, Edo state caught the attention of international community; three weeks ago, the Governor was invited to address the World Bank on citizens’ response to public policy, this is very unusual.

”We have a lot of international investors and visitors coming to this state. We are expecting a trade delegation from one of the biggest companies in Brazil. We are expecting a trade delegation from China and another from South Africa.”