Poised to increase direct foreign investment into Ogun State, the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has embarked on visits to Egypt and Ethiopia, with optimism that the Gateway State will be given utmost consideration due to the existing ease of doing business and other socio-economic development, which places it at a vantage position in the country.

Governor Abiodun during the investment tour met with the Ethiopian Minister of Industry, Ato Melaku Alebal, in Addis Ababa, and sought collaboration between the country and Ogun State, particularly in areas of industry and trade.

          Abiodun in company of Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, the State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Dapo Okubadejo and his counterpart in the Agriculture Ministry, Dr. Adeola Odedina, as well as President Afrexim Bank, Dr. Benedict Oramah, evaluated the benefits and possible collaboration opportunities in the Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZs), which is a product of the African Development Bank.

The Governor, while meeting with one of the largest conglomerates in Egypt, Elsewedy Group, said the deliberation would have significant investment opportunities across Africa and Europe, with focus on healthcare, industrial park development, real estate, intelligent transport systems network, and management, among others.  

"The group is the largest producer of prepaid meters in the world. After this meeting, the investment team will be hosted in Ogun State to further evaluate and structure these investment opportunities, after which the President & CEO Elsewedy Group, Ahmed El Sewedy who received us will come to Ogun State to sign a document in these areas and execute relevant transaction agreements on these investments.

"Our team also met with Peter Emil, the Chief Business Development Officer, Áfríkà for Wadi Degla Holding, a Cairo-based multi-business conglomerate that is into real estate, telecoms, and sports services”, he stated.