Overview
Following the first Jigawa State Economic and Investment Summit held in May 2013, and in line with the recommendations of the Summit, Jigawa State Government established and inaugurated on June 7, 2013 the Advisory Council on Economic Management and Investment Promotion. The body had a broad mandate, which was “To advise and assist the government on policies, strategies, programmes and projects that will enable the State Government to implement the various recommendations of the summit with a view to achieving the primary objectives for which it was convened”. This transmuted into the Jigawa State Investment Promotion Agency (InvestJigawa) with the enactment of the Investment Promotion Agency Law No.12, 2016. The Agency was established for investment attraction and facilitation, and coordination of all investment promotion activities in the state. Liaising with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government at both the state and federal levels, it serves as the resource and coordination centre – a one-stop-shop for investments. In this role, InvestJigawa also works with relevant MDAs to develop, compile and collate data and information, serving as the repository of information on investment opportunities in the Jigawa State.
Apart from fulfilling its core functions, InvestJigawa also has ad hoc responsibilities, assignments which include; its role as secretariat for the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Steering Committee, the Industrial Park Committee, and secretary to the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Steering Committee. InvestJigawa is also a member of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC)/Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF)-managed Nigeria Public Private Partnership Network (NPPPN).
Vision
Mission
Functions and Powers of the Agency
InvestJigawa has the following functions and powers in accordance with the law establishing it:
- Advise and assist the Government on the implementation of all projects and programmes in the investment promotion roadmap of the State;
- Advise and assist the government in creating an attractive and competitive climate for business that will lead to robust economic activities in the State;
- Identify and advise the Government on the programmes and projects that will exploit the natural resources base of the State and create employment for the citizens of the state;
- Source on behalf of the Government, finance for investment from multilateral and bilateral development partners as well as private investors – both domestic and foreign – through public/private partnership and other financial arrangements;
- Assist the State in building capacity for investment project identification, evaluation, planning, execution and management;
- Develop appropriate institutional and regulatory frameworks for investment promotion and facilitation in the State;
- Advise and assist in the establishment of a framework for monitoring and evaluating the progress of the State’s strategic economic investment programmes and projects for effective implementation;
- Establish a framework for identifying and proactively engaging the Federal Government and its agencies in the investment promotion drive of the State;
- Articulate clear private sector growth strategies for providing needed support and appropriate incentives to grow the local and private sectors and enlarge the economic base of the State;
10.Advise and assist the Government in developing and maintaining a comprehensive and reliable database on investment opportunities for effective planning, especially in areas where the State has demonstrable comparative and competitive advantages;
11.Develop a database of reputable and potential investors both within and outside Nigeria with a view to reaching out to them when opportunities arise;
12.Conclude arrangements with any person or authority for the effective implementation of any programme or project and to enter into such other contracts as it may deem necessary to facilitate its functions under this law;
13.Publish and periodically revise data and information on the investment status of the State in order to assist prospective investors both domestic and foreign and also to evaluate State’s potential as an investment destination;
14.Plan and organise targeted and well-researched investment promotion activities including tours and road shows aimed at promoting specific investment projects in areas where the State has demonstrable comparative and competitive advantages;
15.Procure within its budgetary limit, any property or service it may require for the effective discharge of its function under this law and to dispose of any such property or terminate any such service;
16.Request the head of any ministry, department or agency of the Government to furnish it with any document, explanation or other information it may require for the due execution of its functions under this law;
17.Regulate its own proceedings;
18.Do such other things as are necessary and incidental, supplemental or conducive to its function under this law.
Key Facilitation Functions
Some of the key functions for investment facilitation include the following among others:
- Assist investors to get all necessary approvals, incentives and other resources including land, to enable them facilitate the realisation of their projects at the earliest possible time;
- Hand-hold investors and guide them to choose the best investment locations and observe compliance obligations both on start-up and during operations;
- Strategise for MSMEs’ development with a view to especially facilitate their access to markets and funding opportunities.
Services
- Provision of information about investment opportunities in key sectors.
- Investment advisory and facilitation.
- Incentives negotiation and facilitation.
- Negotiation of Public-Private Partnership agreements between the state government and private investors.
- Support in accessing land or other state government services.
- Facilitation of contractual arrangements between investors and local producers/suppliers.
