The Federal Government of Nigeria has inaugurated a committee for this year’s international exhibitors for oil and gas in Onne Free Trade Zone with a target to attract 500 foreign investors.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, who inaugurated the committee, said the exhibition is slated for between October 24 and 26 in Onne, Rivers State.
He said: “The government’s target is to create 60,000 jobs through Onne Free Trade Zone. The government is concerned about attracting investment into the country, particularly in the oil and gas where we have a comparative advantage.
“If we attract more investment it will create multiple opportunities for Nigerians in terms of job and wealth creation. We have over 30,000 people working in Onne as a result of the investment in the zone. We are targeting to double the number of job created.
The oil and gas free zone had contributed significantly to the development of the economy over the years. As the oil and gas industry continues to play dominant role in the Nigerian economy, the free Zone concept would be central and strategic to defining a sustainable transformation of the national economy.
The Minister noted that since inception, the Onne Oil and Gas free Zone had made tremendous and sustained progress in foreign direct investment (FDI), revenue generation, technology transfer employment and wealth creation.
The Chairman, Organising Technical Committee of the forum, Mr Chubuisi Onyebuere, said the committee intended to mobilise over 500 investors operating in the zone, as well as investors from all over the world. We are expanding the available space for exhibition by about 30 per cent, he added.
