The Presidency has said there is no controversy over the status of Nigeria SEZ Investment Company Limited (NSEZCO), also known as Nigeria Special Economic Zones Company.
Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, stated in Abuja on Wednesday when he reacted to reports about the status of NSEZCO.
He said the company was designed as a special purpose vehicle to deliver Project MINE (Made in Nigeria for Exports), which is a Presidential initiative.
“We wish to confirm that NZESCO was incorporated as a special purpose vehicle to deliver Project MINE (Made in Nigeria for Exports), which is a Presidential initiative.
“The Federal Government’s Economic Recovery & Growth Plan (ERGP) identified the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as a major strategic tool to accelerate the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP),’’ he said.
He added that the Project MINE was envisioned by the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment (MITI) to develop SEZs to world-class standards and position Nigeria as the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in sub-Saharan Africa and a major exporter of made in Nigeria goods and services regionally and globally.
“Indeed, Project MINE was necessitated by the following factors:
Lack of operating competitiveness that limits the growth of the zones, despite the presence of generous fiscal and regulatory incentives.
“For government-owned SEZs, there were limited Federal budget allocations to make the required investments in infrastructure, operations and management services,” he said.
Others are the need to develop the skills and experience to operate and manage the zones to world-class standards of efficiency;
The absence of a deliberate strategy to attract investors, create clusters or encourage the development of local value chains using SEZs, and therefore the lack of appropriate link between the industrialization strategy of government and the Free Trade Zones.
Project Mine therefore seeks support for structural transformation of the Nigerian economy by increasing the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to 20 percent by 2029 and contribute to sustainable inclusive growth by creating 1.5 million new direct manufacturing jobs in the initial phase of Project MINE.
He said the project would increase and diversify foreign exchange earnings to at least US$30 billion annually by 2029, by increasing manufacturing sector exports and create local models of global best practice in the provision of world class infrastructure at competitive costs connecting SEZs to international and regional markets with transport links, uninterrupted power, ICT, water, sewage and other services to ensure smooth and efficient operation of SEZ businesses.
It would promote the “cluster” effect to be gained by locating similar export-oriented manufacturing businesses within the same locality, and attract world class investors with strong positions in global supply chains and investors with potential to increase the scale of operations rapidly to set up operations in SEZs.
The project was also expected to create an enabling environment for SEZ businesses by instituting best in class legal and regulatory frameworks, using technology and streamlined processes to facilitate movement of people, goods and capital and easy access to government services, approvals and permits.
Adesina recalled that in June, 2018, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved NSEZCO, with the endorsement of the Economic Management Team, as the holding entity for FGN investments and proprietary interests in existing and future SEZs.
MM/GIK/APA