The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yemi Osinbajo

  • States should have more opportunities to develop themselve – Osinbajo.

    States should have more opportunities to develop themselve – Osinbajo.

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday declared his stand on the raging issue of restructuring of Nigeria, saying that he fully agreed that “states should have more opportunities to develop themselves’’.

    Osinbajo was speaking at a crowded Lagos conference, tagged: “Towards a Better Nigeria,’’ organised by leading Nigerian pastors.

    He, however, did not elaborate on his statement on restructuring but recalled that the ruling APC party had two years ago talked about standing for devolution of powers.

    “The APC manifesto in 2015 talked about devolution of powers and Nigeria may do more work to ensure that states are generating more income and people are paying more taxes.’’

    Osinbajo identified corruption, tribalism and religion as the key problems hampering Nigeria’s development, decrying the failure of Christian leaders in Nigeria to chart an agenda that would help to rid the country of vices.
    “The key to development in Nigeria is the church. It is the church that will begin the process of unity by uniting itself first.

    “What Nigeria needs is already written in the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

    Osinbajo said that to build a new Nigeria, “we need people of integrity, hard work and people with love for the country.

    “It is this tribe that can configure the argument for change in Nigeria. The corrupt Nigerian elites are one tribe.

    “In sharing their loot, they neither bring in ethnicity nor religion but only use such to create misunderstandings that will benefit themselves.

    “The reason Nigeria is where it is today is because people do not really care. It is time people should stand up for what is right and join the fight against corruption.

    “Corruption has become the rule in Nigeria and this must stop. It did not start with this administration and it is yet to stop.

    On the Fulani herdsmen palaver, the vice-president said that “contrary to opinions that it began because the president is Fulani, in 1996, there were issues between herdsmen and some communities in Gombe.

    “This issue has been on through the years. Giving the impression that it is a phenomenon because a Fulani man is president is wrong.

    “Even in 2014, there were reported herdsmen issues in Nigeria.”

    On alleged lop-sided appointments in the country, Osinbajo said it was time that Nigerians begun to look at merit rather than tribe or religion.

    “It is easy to say that appointments are lop-sided if one set of appointments come or that it is not balanced. It is on record that Ogun State has the highest number of heads of agencies and parastatals in Nigeria, followed by Imo.

    “Borno, Sokoto and Yobe States that voted heavily for the APC in the 2015 presidential election do not have a senior minister in the administration.

    “Most people, who think that the north is favoured or better because the president is from there will have a re-think when they visit northern Nigeria.

    “The north is the poorest part of Nigeria in every way. There are over 2.3 million displaced people. The north is ravaged by diseases and Boko Haram.

    “Many people’s perception will change if they visited the north.’’
    On the Ibrahim Magu controversy, the vice-president said that Magu remained a competent man, saying: “we must insist on merit even when many do not believe in that.

    “We are never going to get this country to where we want it to be. In football, we don’t ask where we come from because we want to win.

    “It is only in Nigeria that we look for state quotas first instead of merit.”

    Commenting on an alleged plan by the present administration to start taxing churches, Osinbajo said that a bill on the issue was sponsored by some civil society groups.

    “The bill is currently being debated in the National Assembly. There is no plan by the government to get churches to pay tax.’’

    On the Islamic Development Bank, he explained that Nigeria did not become a member of the bank during the present administration.

    “Buhari does not own the bank. Nigeria became a member in 2008. The first and present directors of the bank are Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Kemi Adeosun and they are Christians.

    “Nigeria is just a shareholder and like any business we make use of the profit we get from there.”

    On IPOB and Operation Python Dance, Osinbajo explained that everything done was geared towards safeguarding the unity of Nigeria.

    “If we begin to have reprisal attacks in Nigeria, we may be facing war. We must be careful to avoid the hostilities degenerating,” he said.

    Also speaking, Bishop Mike Okonkwo of the Redeemed Evangelical Mission, advised churches in Nigeria to embark on human capital development.

    He said that it was time for the church to change its perspective on issues of governance and contribute their quota to nation building.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was convened by Pastor Yomi Kasali of the Greater Nigeria Pastors Conference.

    Over 1,000 pastors from across the country attended the event.

  • Abia generates N1.4bn from Made-in-Nigeria products

    Abia generates N1.4bn from Made-in-Nigeria products

    Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia said on Thursday that the state had generated N1.4 billion from the sale of Made-in-Nigeria goods, since the campaign began.

    The governor disclosed this while addressing state House Correspondents in Abuja after conferring with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the proposed committee on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ( MSME ) Council.

    “Part of the direct fall out of our campaign since the past 24 months is that today some parts of Ariaria market, where the shoe making enterprise is flourishing, has enjoyed steady power for three weeks now.

    “It is on a pilot scheme courtesy of the agency in charge of rural power supply.

    “Beyond that we are interfacing and having better relationship with funding agencies now.

    “And we were able to attract about N1.3billion or N1.4 billion on direct sales from the Made-in-Aba shoes, made in Abia dresses and all that,’’ he said.

    The governor stated that besides the investments the Made-in-Aba fashion show was held in Abuja and another one was held in New York where they (manufacturers) came face to face with world class designers “and we did not do badly at all’’.

    “The Made-in-Nigeria campaign has assumed international dimension now,’’ he added.

    He said the visit to the Vice President was because, “we are trying to set up a committee for the MSME Council and I am a critical stakeholder in that because Abia state is the SME hub of Nigeria today.

    “We are actually interested in what happens; the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products in Abia is going up,’’ Ikpeazu explained.

    On what the state had done to encourage local industries, the governor stated that having direct sales of N1.4 billion was not a joke and ensuring that there was constant and uninterrupted power supply for three weeks was not also a mean feat.

    According to the governor, exposing them to fairs as far as to New York is not something you sweep under the carpet.

    “Confidence is returned; everybody now places“ Proudly Aba, Proudly Nigeria’’ on his ware.

    “If our youths are happy doing what they are doing then we have started something.

    Ikpeazu stated that his administration had been working on infrastructure steadily including roads, electricity, security as all of them were part of enablers that would drive the vision.

    According to him, this government has completed about 45 roads and about 25 of those roads are in Aba.

    “We are doing the first flyover in the entire Abia state in Aba and the cement roads we are doing; our roads have survived three rainy seasons now and they are standing.’’

    On Nnamdi Kanu’s whereabouts, the governor described him as his brother but noted that Kanu was not in the custody of Abia government.

    “Those who are looking for him may have a better knowledge and have the capacity to determine the location of anyone in Nigeria.

    “There are people who are trained to track people and it is their responsibility not mine,’’ the governor stated.

    Kanu was the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ).

    NAN

  • President Buhari presides over FEC

    President Buhari presides over FEC

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday presided over the meeting of Federal Executive Council (FEC) in the Presidential Villa, Abuja

    The meeting which was shifted from Wednesday, Oct. 25 to Oct. 26, started at about 11 a.m.

    It is being attended by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr Habiba Lawal, and cabinet ministers.

     Gathered that the 2018 budget might be the sole agenda to be deliberated upon at the meeting.

    NAN

  • Africa needs determined youths, says Osinbajo 

    Africa needs determined youths, says Osinbajo 

    Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has commended the Imo State governor, over the establishment of the Rochas Foundation College of Africa, which has offered scholarship to the first batch of 275 students from 55 African countries.

    Osinbajo said that Africa needs determined young people who understand that the future belongs to the bold and to the intelligent.

    He noted that it does not matter where one starts from, “but how committed and how determined one is”.

    The Vice President made the remark when he visited the Students of Rochas Foundation College of Africa in Owerri weekend.

    Adressing the students, the Vice President, said that shaking their hands and talking to them “is talking to the bright future of Africa”.

    His words “It is really a special pleasure to meet you personally and to be able to shake your hands as well. Shaking your hands and talking to you is talking to the bright future of Africa and am really excited. And the reason why it is so is because what Africa needs most is committed and determined young people who understand that the future belongs to the bold and to the brain”.

    He continued, “it doesn’t matter where one starts from, it doesn’t matter at all where you start from. It is how committed you are, how determined you are and how hardworking you are, that will ultimately make the difference; all of those that you see anywhere in the world especially in Africa, everyone that you see has a story. Many have stories that are similar to yours”.

    He added further that, “So, there is no disadvantage. As a matter of fact, you have become very privileged because there are millions of children in Africa and other parts of the world that have not had the opportunity of education. Every one of us who is seated here, who has gone to School, represents a tiny percentage of Africans, a small percentage including yourself. That you are in the School, you represent a very special privileged class and that puts a great deal of responsibility on your shoulders.

    “You cannot afford not to do well. You cannot afford not to work hard. You cannot afford to blow the opportunity. This opportunity is a great one. Every opportunity to go to School is a great opportunity and all of us who are seated here are beneficiaries of an opportunity to go to School. I want to say that I am very excited for you and I also almost feel envious of you because the future is so bright and you are going to have such a great future.

    “And when I look at all of you, and I see that you are from different parts of Africa and that you are already working together, you are doing what it is that we have been trying to achieve all these many years. So in the next few years when I meet you guys, you will be the Presidents, Vice Presidents, Prime Ministers, Engineers, great Technologists, great businessmen and women, great legislators all over Africa and when that opportunity comes you must not forget me”.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha in his speech, told the Vice President that, “some of them have been here about one month or two months and many of them are still coming. But what has shocked me about this whole thing here is the relationship that exists among them, not even the story of poverty because you can see the young girl who introduced the Students said meet my brother, meet my Sister”.

    He also remarked that,  “this is the Africa that we are talking about and those people here are the future Presidents, future governors. There is a serious competition in the class among nations which country will beat the other. The first one to three positions in the class would go to America for holidays. We have been doing this for the past seventeen years. But this is the first time we are having the Rochas Foundation College of Africa, but there are other Schools we have with over fifteen thousand students and located in different parts of this country.

    “This is an attempt to bring the whole African nations under one roof. That is why we signed the MoU here with President Jacob Zuma and the understanding with President Kuffo Addo and many nations are coming. We are hoping that this might be the final tree that would provide shed for all African nations and with somebody like you who is so passionate about things like this, I know with your support we shall go far”.

    Read Also: Obasanjo bags AFRIMMA’s Leadership Award

     

  • Africa must reposition its economy to attract investors – Osinbajo

    Africa must reposition its economy to attract investors – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on Africa to reposition its economy in the direction that will attractive investors because investment depends on the advantages derivable.

    Osinbajo made this call while interacting with a committee of African Ambassadors to Indonesia led by the dean of the group, Ms Alice Mageza of Zimbabwe, on the sideline of his two-day working visit to Jakarta.

    The Ambassadors include those of Egypt, Ethiopia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan and Tunisia.

    Mr Laolu Akande, Spokesperson to the Vice President on Media and Publicity disclosed this in a statement made available on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The statement quoted Osinbajo as saying that Africa’s indices of having the lowest integration statistics as well as the lowest GDP ratio can only be reversed by preparing the continent for quality investments that will benefit the people.

    The vice president, who was responding to questions from the Ambassadors on the future of Africa’s economic prosperity, said, “the quality and quantum of potential investors in Africa is huge.

    “But that the way that such investments will go will depend on the advantages that the investors get from investing in such economies.

    “We in Africa must prepare our economies in that direction that attracts such huge and qualitative investments. It is for us to push and we must push,’’ he said.

    On the kinds of investments that Africa desires, Osinbajo said African must focus on the manufacturing sector.

    He noted, “the most important thing for Africa is that whoever wants to invest in our countries should start in manufacturing.’’

    He, however, urged African diplomats in Indonesia to work together in the quest for attracting investment opportunities to Africa.

    Osinbajo said, “if you negotiate together, it is probably going to be more effective than if we negotiate separately.’’

    Earlier, Vice President met with Indonesian business leaders under the auspices of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he stressed the need for Indonesian companies to increase their investment portfolios in Nigeria.

    “Nigeria would like to see more Indonesian companies invest in the manufacturing sector even though there are quite a few activities going on in Nigeria; there is also room for more collaboration and cooperation.

    “The opportunities in the various sectors comprising oil and gas, manufacturing are huge because the major incentive lies in the market, the Nigerian and the West African markets.’’

    Giving an overview of ongoing projects in Nigeria and collaborations between Indonesian and Nigerian businesses, Osinbajo said Nigeria would need a rolling stock in its railway revitalization project.

    He outlined the various incentives given by the Federal Government to attract investors into Nigeria as, government’s efforts at increasing foreign exchange availability through the NIFEX market.

    Others he said include approval of pioneer status for some category of companies to enjoy a range of incentives; establishment of special economic zones; initiatives to increase foreign exchange availability and opening up of marginal fields.

    Earlier, some members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry also expressed concern about the declining value of the Indonesia-Nigeria trade which currently stands at $1.70 billion dollars from $3.18 billion in 2012.

    The chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Rosan Roeslani said, “being the 15th largest economy in the world, Indonesia through its investors is desirous of increasing its portfolios to levels that justify Nigeria’s position as the country’s biggest trading partner in Africa.’’

    He said Osinbajo’s visit to Indonesia and meeting with the business leaders are strong indications that Nigeria is ready to take her pride of place among Indonesia’s biggest trading partners in the world.

    On her part, the Chief Executive Officer of Indonesia Exim Bank, Shintya Roesly expressed the readiness of the bank to support the revitalization of trade relations between both countries.

    She said this will be through the financing of import and export activities with a view to making even the balance of trade between the two countries.

    Roesly stressed the need for creation of a roadmap and the establishment of a working group with timelines to enhance trade development between both countries.

    Mr Daniel Purba, the representative of PERTAMINA – Indonesian state-owned oil and Natural Gas Corporation said the company has already opened discussions with stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

    According to him, this is with the view to investing in Nigeria’s upstream assets.

    There were other interests expressed by investors in the railway, aviation, agriculture and foods sectors.

    The Vice President was accompanied to the meeting by Mr Hakeem Balogun, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Indonesia; Dr Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Mines and Steel Development; Hajiya Zainab Ahmed.

    Others include the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning; Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, the Political Adviser to the President, and other top government officials.

    NAN

  • Nigeria, Indonesia to strengthen economic ties

    Nigeria, Indonesia to strengthen economic ties

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has disclosed that Nigeria and Indonesia have agreed to work together to increase the level of economic cooperation between both countries.

    Prof. Osinbajo spoke on Tuesday morning at a bilateral meeting he held with his Indonesian counterpart, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, on the sidelines of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative ( EITI ) Beneficial Ownership Transparency Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said that Nigeria is open for business and more investment.

    He said “We are looking forward to more Indonesian investments especially in the manufacturing sector in Nigeria, trying to exploit our local raw materials,”

    He also informed Mr. Kalla that the Buhari administration has implemented reforms that have made the Nigerian business environment “a more favourable environment.”

    In his own remarks, the Indonesian Vice President said his country is also ready for more economic cooperation with African countries, especially Nigeria.

    Vice President Kalla also conveyed his greetings to President Muhammadu Buhari and asked after his health, to which Prof Osinbajo responded that the President was doing very well.

    The Nigerian Vice President then expressed appreciation to the Indonesian government and extended greetings to President Joko Widodo.

    Other issues discussed by the two Vice Presidents included how both countries can collaborate more in the Agriculture and agro-allied sector, and also in palm oil research and production.

  • Nigeria, Indonesia agree to reinforce economic ties

    Nigeria, Indonesia agree to reinforce economic ties

    Nigeria and Indonesia have agreed to increase the level of economic cooperation between both countries, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said.

    The agreement was reached on Tuesday at a bilateral meeting Osinbajo held with his Indonesian counterpart, Jusuf Kalla, a release issued by Mr Laolu Akande stated.

    The meeting was on the sidelines of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative ( EITI ) Beneficial Ownership Transparency Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia.

    According to Osinbajo, Nigeria is open for business and more investment and recalled the partnership reached with members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

    “We are looking forward to more Indonesian investments especially in the manufacturing sector in Nigeria, trying to exploit our local raw materials,” he said.

    The vice president also informed his counterpart that the Muhammadu Buhari administration had implemented reforms that had made the Nigerian business environment “a more favourable environment”.

    Osinbajo expressed appreciation to the Indonesian government and extended greetings to President Joko Widodo.

    In his own remarks, the Indonesian Vice President said his country was also ready for more economic cooperation with African countries, especially Nigeria.

    Other issues discussed by the two Vice Presidents included areas of collaboration in the Agriculture and agro-allied sector including palm oil research and production.

    NAN

  • Secret corporate ownership a global problem – Osinbajo

    Secret corporate ownership a global problem – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described secret corporate ownership as a global problem and bane of development in resource-rich countries like Nigeria.

    Osinbajo said this at the Beneficial Ownership Conference of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative ( EITI ) in Jakarta, Indonesia on Monday.

    The vice president’s speech was made available to newsmen in Abuja.

    He cited a 2014 report by the One Campaign entitled, “One Trillion Dollar Scandal’’, which showed that developing countries loose one trillion dollars annually to corporate transgressions.

    According to the vice president, most of the funds are traceable to the activities of companies with secret ownership.

    “Another report that may enjoy mention here is the 2015 report of the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa chaired by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

    “The panel stated in its report that Africa had lost more than one trillion dollars over a 50-year period, and that Africa loses more than 50 billion dollars annually to illicit financial flows.

    “Most of these illicit flows are perpetrated in the extractive sector and through companies with hidden ownerships.’’

    Osinbajo said Nigeria was still struggling with the negative impact of the use of corporate ownership secrecy by senior government officials and their cronies to corner juicy contracts in the extractive industry.

    He specifically mentioned the celebrated Malabu scandal of the 1990s, which he said remained the subject of criminal and civil proceedings in many parts of the world.

    According to him, the court cases involved huge legal costs, while the full benefit of the natural resource remains unexploited for the benefit of the people of Nigeria to which it belongs.

    “So, for us in the developing world and especially in Africa, breaking the wall of secret corporate ownership is an existential matter.

    “It is for us literarily a matter of life and death. Masked or Hidden corporate ownership is deeply implicated in the sad story of our underdevelopment.

    “Yes, we know that anonymous companies are not always illegal or are not always designed to harm.

    “But we also know that secrecy provides a convenient cover for the criminal and the corrupt. And we are not just operating from the theoretical or hypothetical standpoint,’’ he said.

    The vice president said that the problem was a global one driven by an inter-connected world where the foothold of anonymous companies does not respect the developed/developing divide.

    He said although the degree of exposure may differ, everyone in today’s world was at risk of the dangers posed by anonymous corporate ownership.

    “If nothing else, the Panama Papers clearly illustrated the global scale and spread of this problem.

    “So, this is a global challenge and nothing less than a truly global approach will be needed to tackle it.’’

    Osinbajo commended the United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands and Denmark for setting the pace in the establishment of public registers of the real, human owners of companies in their countries.

    He, therefore, called on other G8 and G20 countries to follow suit by initiating actions to end corporate secrecy at home and their dependencies.

    “Open Ownership and its partners must also be commended for establishing a global register of beneficial ownership with entries on about two million companies.

    “However, we must note that legislative measures in the mentioned countries may need to go farther to effectively discourage or totally prohibit non-disclosure agreements by governments with big corporate, and to re-evaluate the use of secret trusts to hide beneficial ownership from the prying eyes of the law.

    “It is important to underscore the fact that opacity in one section of the globe undermines openness in the other.

    “We need to break down this wall together as we are all at risk of the evil effects of opacity in business ownership.

    NAN

  • Niger Delta: Every part of the country matters – Osinbajo

    Niger Delta: Every part of the country matters – Osinbajo

    VICE President Yemi Osinbajo assured that Niger Delta people will benefit maximally from the wealth and natural resources of their land.

    He said every part of the country mattered to the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    Osinbajo spoke yesterday on Bonny Island, the headquarters of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State while inaugurating the construction of the strategic 40-kilometre Bonny-Bodo-Ogoni Road, conceived by the Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s regime but abandoned.

    The road is to be jointly financed by the Federal Government and the Bonny-based Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Company Limited.

    The vice president, who arrived Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa at 12:05 p.m., was accompanied by Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola; senator representing Rivers Southeast Senator Magnus Abe and Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Dakuku Peterside.

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade received Prof. Osinbajo at the airport with Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) Chief Kenneth Kobani.

    In Bonny, Osinbajo said: “November 1 will make it exactly one year after Niger Delta leaders, under the aegis of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) met with President Muhammadu Buhari, where he discussed the new vision of his administration with them.

    “On my own part, I have toured many Niger Delta communities to tell them about the new vision of the present administration, ably led by President Buhari.

    Yemi Osinbajo at Niger Delta
    Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo was welcomed by Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade at the Airport

    “Under the new vision, the people of Niger Delta will benefit maximally from the wealth that comes from their land. Every part of Nigeria matters to us as a government. What this country produces will be enough for all of us, if we manage the resources prudently.”

    The vice president also stated that the new road would create jobs in and around Bonny and Bodo communities.

    He said: “This road will create jobs for engineers, it will create jobs for artisans and it will create jobs for food vendors. The construction of this road will transform a lot of lives in and around Bonny and Bodo communities.

    “The construction of this road will alleviate the suffering of many travellers to and from Bonny Island. I rejoice with the people of Bonny and Bodo over the flag-off of the construction of this road project.”

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike reiterated that over the years, residents of Bonny were yearning for the construction of the road to link the coastal community with the upland areas of the state.

    Wike was represented by Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry-Banigo.

    Fashola said: “This 40-kilometre Bonny-Bodo Road will have three bridges in between. A 1,000-metre bridge will across Ogbogbo Creek, a 640-metre bridge will be against Nabie Creek, and a 550-metre bridge will be against the Ake Creek.”

  • VP won’t run in 2019

    VP won’t run in 2019

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that he will not run for president in 2019.

    He spoke yesterday in London at the Financial Times Africa Summit .

    When he was asked whether he would be running, Osinbajo was quoted to have said: “None of that is on the card.”

    According to a copy of the speech released to reporters in Abuja, the vice president said the administration specifically carried out extensive ‘ease of doing business’ reforms, in addition to on-going investment in infrastructure.

    “After a continuous slide in growth since 2014, the trend of growth in GDP has turned around with a modest growth of 0.55 per cent in the second quarter of this year.

    “Inflation, though still somewhat high, has declined from its peak of 18.7 per cent in January 2017 to about 16 per cent today,” he stated.

    The Vice President noted that ‘’the outlook going forward is quite positive based on improvements in oil prices and production and the trend of leading indicators such as positive purchasing managers indices, a revived stock exchange and increasing foreign exchange reserves’’.

    Highlighting some of the efforts of the administration in agriculture and power, the Vice President drew attention to the significant progress achieved in the ease of doing business initiative.

    “In the first stage, reforms were introduced under a 60-day national action plan focused on eight areas that make it easier to register businesses, obtain construction permits, get credit, pay taxes, get electricity, trade across borders, facilitate entry and exit of people and register property.

    “Practical examples of success include leveraging the use of technology to fast track business registration and payment of taxes, a functioning, tried and tested 48-hour electronic visa procedure, and an Executive Order mandating greater transparency and efficiency across all government agencies.

    “The reforms have led to reduction in cost and time, as well as greater transparency for small and medium sized enterprises in particular.

    “Following the 70 per cent success rate achieved in the first phase of the ease of doing business reforms, we recently embarked on a second national action plan which will have 11 areas of focus and will run for 60 days from October 2017,” he added.