The Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that fruitful negotiations are ongoing to attract Vlisco, one of West Africa’s largest textile companies to set up at Benin Industrial Park (BIP), as the state plans to reposition the state as a textile hub in the country. Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right); Chairman, Edo State Chapter, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Comrade Isaiah Okungbowa (2nd left); Secretary of the Union, Bayo Oladipupo (right); and Chairperson of the Union, Eunice Edo, during the courtesy visit by the executive members of the Union to the governor, at Government House, Benin City. He stated this when he received the executive members of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter, led by the chairman, Comrade Isaiah Okungbowa, who were in Government House on a courtesy visit. The Benin Industrial Park is a landmark industrial complex being developed by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration close to Benin City, that is set to stimulate large scale industrialisation and create wealth for Edo people and residents. The park, which is expected to cover 996 hectares of land, will host textile, agro-processing, equipment manufacturing and other industries. The governor said his administration is focused on building the manufacturing hub, which will be sited in a secure environment, where there will be stable electricity supply, water, and other basic needs to enhance the ease of doing business and allow members of the union to work 24 hours a day to allow for mass production. Noting that the state is keen on becoming a textile hub, he said, “We are negotiating to attract one of the largest textile companies (Vlisco Textile) to Edo State to reside at the industrial park, in Iyanomo, to make the state a textile hub in Nigeria.” “We want to develop the state and create wealth for Edo people by increasing economic activity in the state. We want to ensure our state is developed and promote an environment that attracts investors to contribute to the development of the state,” he added. He assured that his administration will make it a policy to allow the union sew uniforms of students in the state to deepen government’s partnership with members of the union. Earlier, leader of the delegation, Comrade Isaiah Okungbowa thanked the governor for his continued support for them, stressing that they will continue to play their role in supporting the administration. He commended the governor for his drive to create 200,000 jobs for the people of the state and expressed the readiness of the union to partner with his administration. He appealed for the establishment of a cottage fashion industry, which can be managed by the union.

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