According to the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, all is set for this year’s international exhibitors for oil and gas in Onne Free Trade Zone, CEOAFRICA.com gathered.

The Minister who disclosed this while inaugurating the committee for the programme said the exhibition is scheduled to hold between October 24 and 26 in Onne, Rivers State, with a target of 500 foreign investors expected.

He said: “The government’s target is to create 60,000 jobs through Onne Free Trade Zone. The government is concerned about attracting investment into the country, particularly in the oil and gas where we have a comparative advantage.

“If we attract more investment it will create multiple opportunities for Nigerians in terms of job and wealth creation. We have over 30,000 people working in Onne as a result of the investment in the zone. We are targeting to double the number of job created.

Sources disclosed that the oil and gas free zone had contributed significantly to the development of the economy over the years. As the oil and gas industry continues to play dominant role in the Nigerian economy, the free Zone concept would be central and strategic to defining a sustainable transformation of the national economy.

According to the honourable Minister, the Onne Oil and Gas free Zone, since inception, had made tremendous and sustained progress in foreign direct investment (FDI), revenue generation, technology transfer employment and wealth creation.

Mr Chubuisi Onyebuere, who is the Chairman of the Organizing Committee said 500 investors operating in the zone are aimed to be mobilized, as well as investors from all over the world.