TARAVEST 2025 SUMMIT: “We want investors to gain direct access to Decision Makers in Taraba State”- Gov. Kefas

Oru Leonard

Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has said that the purpose of TARAVEST 2025, is for investors to gain direct access to decision-makers, clarify regulators’ requirements, and discuss public-private partnership opportunities. Also, to facilitate joint venture talks, supply chain linkages, technology transfer, and co-investment arrangements.

Gov Kefas stated this when he led a delegation to Abuja to woo the diplomatic and international community to attend the forthcoming Taraba International Investment Summit. The summit, scheduled for May 21, 2025, aims to showcase the state’s untapped potentials in agriculture, mining, energy, and tourism, and attract investments.

Key Highlights:

• Investment Opportunities: The governor highlighted Taraba’s strategic advantages, including peace and security, arable land for agriculture, hydropower potentials, rich mineral reserves, and emerging ICT hub.
• Summit Structure: The summit will feature action-oriented panels, policy incentives, public-private partnership frameworks, and priority projects, as well as guided site visits to modern farms and exploration zones.
• Investor Support: The governor assured investors of the state’s commitment to their safety, logistics, and accommodation, and highlighted the recently enacted Investment Incentives Act, which offers tax holidays, duty waivers, and land-use rebates.

Benefits of Investing in Taraba:

• Agriculture: Over 44,000 km² of arable land ideal for rice, maize, cassava, and other specialized crops.
• Energy: Unparalleled hydropower potentials on the River Benue and solar mini-grids across the state.
• Mining: Rich reserves of gold, limestone, lithium ore, and other minerals.
• Digital Economy and Tourism: Emerging ICT hub and world-class attractions like the National Park.

Diplomatic Community’s Response:

• Support: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, commended the governor for convening the summit, highlighting the need for partnership between governments, private sector players, and civil societies.
• Participation: The diplomatic community has been invited to submit names of investors and technical delegates to participate in the summit.

Dr Agbu assured that there is adequate coordinated security services, the Nigerian military, the Nigerian police, and our traditional rulers and other local security apparatus to guarantee the safety of participants throughout the period.

He disclosed that there will be logistics and accommodation for those that will decide to stay back.

“We have reserved conference rate hotels and 24-hour protocol support, so you have no fear at all. In incentive framework for investors, our recently enacted Investment Incentives Act offers tax holidays, duty waivers, and land-use rebates.

“This is fully transparent, when investors look at all the available incentives, they make decisions alongside with those that will be saddled with that responsibility.

Chairman of the Main Summit Planning Committee, Rt. Hon. Godwin Elumelu also assured the diplomatic community that measures have been put in place to ensure their safety and transparency in doing business in the state.

“The Governor will be talking to you to let you know the legal and regulatory framework protecting foreign investors in Taraba State, marrying the law of Nigeria vis-a-vis also the law passed by Taraba State House of Assembly and accepted by the government.

Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Maitama Tuggar who was represented by Abm. Anderson Madueke, assured the diplomatic community that Taraba State is indeed investment destination.

He commended the government of Taraba State for convening the timely summit.

“There is, therefore, the need for partnership between governments, private sector players, civil societies. This significant gathering, therefore, reflects our collective pursuit of development and prosperity, not only for Taraba State, but indeed for the whole world”, he said.