International investors are "sitting up and taking notice of Lagos" as the state reaps the rewards of reform, a significant reduction in crime and a stronger co-operative relationship between the Administration and the private secor, CBC Director-Geneal Dr Mohan Kaul told the Business Environment Roundtable of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry on 7 July, 2011.

This was a tribute the vision and energy of Governor Babatunde Fashola and his State Government and the entrepreneurial drive of the business community. It was not surprising that the economy of Lagos State was the fifth biggest in Africa, including that of nation states, Dr Kaul said.

Making the keynote speech to the Round Table, called to consider the 2011 Nigerian Economic Roadmap, Dr Kaul said the Federal and State Governments would achieve their objectives  with a campaign based on the pillars of peace, safety and security, transparency and good governance, a concerted effort to bridge the infratsructure and power gaps, education and skills development and the promotion of small and medium sized industries.

He paid ribute to Governor Fashola's recent success in an internationally acknowledged free and fair election and his ambition to establish Lagos as a secure, sustainable and booming mega-city. Already the progress in redevelopment, highway and housing construction bore witness to the State's successes over a remarfkably short period.

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Dr. Mohan Kaul speech