Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo says over 200 Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) have submitted applications to relocate to the Edo Processing Centre situated along the Sapele road axis of the state capital.
The governor stated this after inspecting the renovation work at the facility being used for the processing centre in Benin on Wednesday.
He noted that the renovation work was almost completed and that the centre would be ready for use in a month’s time.
“We have over 200 applications from SMEs who want to come and locate here. We have had a lot of SMEs come together as clusters or cooperatives, who applied and have been given space either for fabrication, Polythene based products or furniture making,’’ the governor said.
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He explained that arrangements had been completed to get uninterrupted power supply to the facility, while the magistrate court inside the premises would be relocated.
“The Power contractor has assured that within the next fortnight, they will make the connections to bring uninterrupted power into this centre. We are also talking with the three local government councils within the metropolitan area, the plan is within a couple of months, we should be relocating the court houses to the various local government councils,’’ he said.
Speaking on ensuring free flow of traffic along Sapele road which leads to the centre, the governor said the state government was working with the federal government to repair the pot holes on the road and install street lights.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Job Creation and Skills Development, Mrs Ukinebo Dare, said the centre was meant to help people into small scale production to reduce their costs of production and grow their businesses.
Dare said the Processing Centre was being developed by the state government, in collaboration with Bank of Industry and Benson Idahosa University. (NAN)
