To create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state, the Edo State Government through the Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO) – the Ease of Doing Business Secretariat, has organized a four-day Public Private Dialogue sessions (PPD) to identify and find solutions to the problems inhibiting business growth in the state.
The Managing Director, Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO), Mr Kelvin Uwaibi, said the office has developed policy briefs on different areas of concern for businesses in the state, which would drive the sessions.
He noted that the Public-Private Dialogue is a private sector-led advocacy platform to identify and address constraints of ease of doing business for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Edo State looking at issues surrounding taxation, local content, access to finance, access to market and access to electricity.
Participants drawn from the private sector and government Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government (MDAs) are expected to participate in the dialogue and consider the various policy briefs as prepared.
The MDAs to look at issues surrounding taxation are as follows: Ministry of Finance, Budget, Economic Planning and Development; Edo State House of Assembly; Ministry of Environment and Sustainability; Edo Inland Revenue Service (EIRS); Governor’s Office; Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs; Edo State Multi-Door Court House and Ministry of Communication and Orientation.
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For local content, the MDAs involved are; the Ministry of Business, Trade and Cooperatives; Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO); Ministry of Education; Edo Skills Development Agency (EDOJOBS); Ministry of Mining and Energy; Edo State Public Procurement Agency (EDPPA) and Edo State Multi-Door Court House.
For access to finance and market, the MDAs involved are the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs; Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of Business, Trade and Cooperatives; EDOJOBS and Edo State Information Communication Technology.
To access Electricity, the MDAs engaged the Ministry of Digital Economy, Science and Technology; Electricity Regulatory Commission; Edo Skills Development Agency (Edojobs); Ministry of Roads and Bridges; Edo State Multi-Door Court; Ministry of Orientation and Communication; Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGis); Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, among others.
The Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) will be held at John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy, Benin City.