Governor Caleb Mutfwang has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a resilient, private sector-driven economy, declaring that manufacturing will remain central to Plateau State’s industrialisation agenda. The governor made the declaration during an interactive breakfast meeting with manufacturers, investors, business leaders, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at the Government House in Jos, as the government intensifies efforts to attract investment, create jobs, and diversify the state’s economy.
The engagement, which brought together captains of industry, regulatory agencies, entrepreneurs, and key players in the organised private sector, followed recent discussions between the governor and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.
It aimed to strengthen collaboration between the government and the private sector to drive industrial development across the state. Addressing participants, Mutfwang commended investors for maintaining confidence in Plateau despite years of economic and security challenges.
He assured them that his administration is creating an enabling environment for businesses through improved infrastructure, enhanced security, policy reforms, and strategic partnerships. “It takes courage to invest in an environment where the operating climate has not always been favourable.
Our commitment is to build a resilient and sustainable economy that is no longer dependent on federal allocations. The private sector remains the engine that will drive Plateau’s economic transformation,” he said. The governor identified agribusiness as the foundation of the state’s industrialisation strategy, saying that investments in potatoes, livestock, coffee, acha, horticulture, and other agricultural value chains would provide raw materials for manufacturing, create employment, and boost exports.
“We are not merely investing in agriculture; we are unlocking complete value chains. Feedlots, dairy production, cold-chain facilities, processing, transportation, packaging and exports all represent significant investment opportunities. As incomes rise, purchasing power increases, businesses expand, and the economy grows,” he added.
Mutfwang said his administration was determined to unlock the economic potential of agriculture, mining, tourism, and manufacturing to reduce the state’s dependence on federal allocations. He highlighted ongoing initiatives, including the establishment of West Africa’s largest Potato Tissue Culture Laboratory for quality seed multiplication, rehabilitation of tractor fleets, construction of an ultra-modern abattoir, dairy development programmes, and strategic partnerships designed to position Plateau as one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural processing and export hubs.
The governor also outlined investments in road infrastructure, electricity, digital connectivity, tourism, and hospitality, noting that the projects were aimed at lowering the cost of doing business, improving competitiveness, and attracting both local and foreign investors.