Imo services sector has remained resilient amidst hard-hitting economic circumstances. The strength of the sector has hinged on economic development in the state and the socio-cultural changes that have accompanied it. One of the key factors for the growth in the service sector is increase in size of middle income consumers. The demand for a host of services like education, health care, entertainment, telecommunication, transport, tourism is equally on the increase. Therefore Imo state government invites investors in these service areas.

TOURISM & HOSPITALITY

Imo State has been naturally endowed as a tourism destination. Her strategic location, mild climate, hospitable dispositions of her citizenry and above all a spectacular reign of peace in the State stand her in a good stead.

Imo State plays host to visitors from within and outside Nigeria who come for a brief stay for various reasons which include vacation, seminars and workshops, business and administrative meetings and conferences, sports, religious and academic programmes, social visits and to satisfy the urge to experience the rich culture of Imo people. Fortunately, the state is endowed with abundant natural resources and cultural heritage, which offer great business opportunities to investors.

Investment opportunities under the following PPP Model are open to interested investors:

ABADABA LAKE RESORT

The Abadaba Lake Resort located at Okwuohia Community in Obowo LGA is a great tourist site. It has the trappings of tourist attraction. It is a site to behold if well developed and harnessed. The landmass is quite large for tourism development and fishing activities also persist at the site.

Development of the site had earlier been initiated by the then Governor of Imo State, Late Dr. Sam Mbakwe with the aim of meeting the recreational needs of the people of Imo State and on improvement in the internally generated revenue of the State.

THE IMO WONDERLAKE RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTRE PROJECT

Oguta Lake and Golf Resort was established about 40 years ago by the colonial rulers as their exclusive “get away” spot. It was later developed into mordern resort and commissioned as a tourist destination of choice with several social and sporting events been staged there cumulating in the annual golf tourney.

Oguta Lake and Golf resort potentials has never been fully harnessed resulting its current under utilization and subsequent loss of revenue to Imo State and its people.

In order to transform and reinvent the Oguta Lake and Golf Resort to a world class tourist and Edutainment center to be known as the Imo Wonder Lake Resort and Conference Center, Oguta, or simply as Wonder Lake Resort, Nigeria (The Resort). The State Government invites private sector participants who shall provide funding on a Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) or the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

Other investment opportunities under the service sector include:

● Wholesale & Retail Services
● Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
● Financial and Insurance
● Education
● Housing Scheme
● Market Complexes (Trade Fair Complexes, International Electrical, Electronics and Automobile Parts Market, Central Market, New Owerri, Imo International Market, Enterprise Zones)

WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN IMO

● Availability of arable land across the country including 3.14 million hectares of irrigatable land;
● Favourable weather conditions that support all-year-round agricultural activities;
● Known and mapped-out soil characteristics across the country to guide crop cultivation;
● Supportive government policy that is geared towards encouraging mechanized farming and agribusiness; and
● Huge demand gap between the supply of agricultural produce and the industrial activities.