Edo Woos Investors at 27th World Investment Conference

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO) has said its successful outing in 2023 is a testament to the proactive stance of the Godwin Obaseki’s administration in fostering a conducive business environment in Edo State.

Managing Director Uwaibi of ESIPO who spoke in Benin City after returning from the WAIPA-organised 27th World Investment Conference in Delhi, India, said Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has consistently highlighted the state’s commitment to becoming a cosmopolitan hub and a preferred destination for investors and digital nomads by 2030.

According to him, “Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO) has made a significant impact at the WAIPA-organised 27th World Investment Conference in Delhi, India.
“This is as representatives from the Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO) led by Kelvin Uwaibi, MD of ESIPO, and Henry Oqua, Communications Director, engaged discussions with industry leaders at the Government-to-Business (G2B) meetings.”

Uwaibi said the discussions with industry leaders sparked genuine interest in collaborating with Edo State.
His words: “As the only foreign sub-national Investment Promotion Agency in attendance, ESIPO’s presence stood out prominently, thanks to the backing from the EU-funded UNDP Integrated National Financing Frameworks programme.

“The final day’s Government-to-Business (G2B) meetings were especially impactful, sparking promising investment prospects across vital sectors such as agro-processing, supply chain management, manufacturing, and renewable energy.

“Robic Rufarm, a sustainable agriculture advocate, saw Edo’s agricultural potential as grounds for fruitful collaboration. Equally impressed, Ninjacart, a prominent agritech platform, recognized Edo as a strategic hub for their operations. Discussions with MIB Technologies, a mobile factory manufacturer, showed promise for potential investments, especially leveraging the burgeoning energy sector in the state.”

Continuing, Uwaibi said, “RDZ Foods, a major food processing company, found Edo’s infrastructure and resources appealing, with discussions advancing steadily towards the establishment of factories in the state and empowering women through training programs. Fertis/Farmgate, specializing in fertilizer and agricultural equipment, envisioned Edo as a launchpad for their expansion into Nigeria.”

Noting that ESIPO forged strategic partnerships with international Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) like Invest India and Business France, he added that “Invest India committed to supporting Indian investors looking at Edo, while Business France expressed interest in joint investment missions to France. These alliances further underscored Edo’s position as a prime global investment destination.”

Uwaibi who emphasized ESIPO’s commitment to actively engage with diverse businesses, forge strategic partnerships, and cultivate an environment conducive to business growth said, “Through these endeavors, ESIPO aims to pave the way for a prosperous future for Edo State, driven by innovation and sustained investment.  “