Tamale, Jan. 22, GNA - The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris on Tuesday assured visitors to the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations that the Chiefs and people were ready to release land for any investor to improve the northern economy.

He said there were large tracts of arable and commercial land, as well as a business friendly environment in the Tamale Metropolis and the rest of the districts of the region, which were worth investing in. Alhaji Idris told the GNA Sports in an interview in Tamale that the Region was overjoyed to receive such large numbers of visitors, who were mostly business people and who can easily invest to further improve the region's economy.

He said: "I, on behalf of the Chiefs and people of the Northern Region, welcome all visitors into the Metropolis and we assure you that the Region is ready to provide land to any investor who would want to invest here."

Alhaji Idris therefore called on the visitors, particularly the business-oriented ones to take advantage of the Region's huge natural resources and cheap labour to invest in agro-industries. The Regional Minister mentioned the hospitality industry, tourism, fruit nd animal rearing, sheabutter production, lumber, farming, beekeeping, housing and transportation as areas for investment in the Region.

Alhaji Idris expressed the hope that the CAN 2008 would prove and showcase the friendly environment of Tamale and its environs to enable businesses to relocate there to change the face of poverty, ignorance and disease among the people of the Region.

He commended the people of the Region for comporting themselves during the commissioning of the stadium by President Kufuor last week and appealed to them to continue to exhibit the Ghanaian hospitality to visitors during the tournament to justify Tamale's selection as one of the host cities to attract more investors.