The President of Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Remi Bello, has advised the Lagos State to engage the Federal Government on the release of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos- Badagry expressway.
The LCCI chairman, who was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair in Lagos on Sunday, said that the current temporary structures were highly inefficient and expensive.
“We need a befitting international exhibition and convention centre possibly to be promoted by Lagos State Government in partnership with the private-sector.
“Such facility should be in a strategic location in Lagos as it is the case in many emerging economies.”
Bello recalled that Segun Aganga, a former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, once announced that the National Council on Privatisation had reviewed the concession of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
Bello said that Aganga made the announcement at the 2013 opening ceremony of the trade fair.
He said that the fair theme: “Enhancing Value Addition in the Non-oil Economy”, underscored the significance of value addition in production processes across all sectors of the economy.
Bello said that value addition would create inclusiveness, promotes self-reliance, reduce pressure on reserves and impact positively on development and job creation.
He urged governments at all levels to address issues of infrastructure, policy framework, quality of institutions and funding which had constituted impediments to investment in the country.
Earlier in his address, Gov. Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State, had reiterated the readiness of the state government to create conducive environment for business to thrive in the state.
He said that he state government would improve on the infrastructure, promote mutually beneficial relationship and enhance global competitiveness of the economy.
Ambode said that the growing number of foreign investors in the state attested to the stature of the state as the centre of investment opportunities in Nigeria.
He advised foreign investors to leverage on opportunities being provided by the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment in the state.
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