minister of finance, budget and national planning,
Zainab Ahmed, minister
of finance, budget and national planning, says the federal government is
working to
house wards growing the nation’s economy at a similar pace with China’s.
Speaking at a news
conference on the forthcoming 25th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Monday,
Ahmed said there are plans for operational, regulatory and legislative
interventions to move the country to the top 100 on the ease of doing business
ranking.
According to the 2018
World Bank
find Ease of Doing Business ranking, Nigerian ranked 146, dropping a spot
from its 145-rank in 2017.
She explained that
President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had taken steps toward making the
country investment-friendly and competitive.
She said part of this
was the establishment of
business the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council
(PEBEC), to address business constraints to support the diversification
efforts.
Ahmed attributed
Nigeria’s movement on the ranking to the implementation of business-focused
policies.
“We have also
established a competitiveness advisory council and special economic zones
(SEZs) in the six geo-political zones, as a vehicle for partnering with the
private sector,” Ahmed said.
“The initiative is in
line with the modern trend of providing infrastructure to business clusters to
improve and boost economic activities in such zones as found in China and other
fast-growing economies.
“We believe that these
initiatives will improve trade balances, investment and create jobs.”
She also said the
government is willing to work with the private sector on commercially viable
projects to expand transportation and other infrastructures that would make the
country competitive for investment
She said the greatest
challenge facing the government was inadequate revenue to execute its intended
projects.
According to her, new
sources of revenue is being identified and enhanced while coordination and
cohesion among revenue generating agencies, is being improved.
She expressed hope that
the summit would also assist in proffering solutions on how to maximise the
large workforce, reap the demographic dividends and achieve a competitive
economy that is inclusive.
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