Mariya Mahmoud, minister of state of the FCT, says Abuja is open to foreign investors.

Ms Mahmoud stated this at the close of the Africa International Trade Exhibition Summit in Midtown, New York, United States of America.

In a statement on Sunday, the minister said the summit provided an opportunity to attract investors to FCT. 

The minister, who represented FCT minister Nyesom Wike, assured investors that the FCT Administration would develop economic policies and programmes to create a conducive business environment for investors.

Ms Mahmoud listed agriculture, tourism, infrastructure development, transportation, healthcare, waste management and hospitality industry as critical areas for investment in the FCT.

The minister also called for huge investment in affordable housing, noting that the FCTA is determined to improve the socio-economic status of the masses in line with the renewed hope agenda of the present administration.

Ms Mahmoud explained that the participation of FCTA in the investment summit has opened more opportunities for foreign direct investment. She added that the Abuja Investment Company Limited and Abuja Infrastructure Investment Centre would drive the initiative for easy implementation.

“The summit offered us the opportunity to present investment opportunities in the FCT, particularly agriculture. It was a platform to call on our people, especially the people in diaspora to come on board and assist us to tackle the issue of food insecurity,” said Ms Mahmoud.

Ms Mahmoud added, “We also have tourism, infrastructure development, transportation, healthcare, waste management and hospitality industry. All these are areas that people can come and invest in, and we really need collaboration and public partnership because, without collaboration without partnership, we cannot achieve what we want to achieve.” 

 (NAN)