WorldStage Newsonline– The Oyo State Government has affirmed its resolve to provide an enabling environment to support investors wishing to partner with the state.
Gov Seyi Makinde stated this on Monday in Ibadan while hosting some Chinese investors from China Overseas Engineering Group Co. Limited.
Makinde, whose deputy, Mr Bayo Lawal, received the investors on his behalf, said that his administration remained commitment to exploring modern technologies to improve and transform agricultural practices in the state.
According to him, investments in agriculture development and value chain are part of the visions of his administration to expand the economy of the state and attract more investors.
He maintained that Oyo State had a comparative advantage in agriculture “and has also invested in enablers such as infrastructure and security.”
The governor called on the Chinese investors to partner with his government to guarantee food security and boost agricultural productivity
He said this would make the state a hub for agro-industrial processing, “thereby generate thousands of employment opportunities and improve revenue drive”.
“So, we stand ready in Oyo State to embrace whatever technology to improve our system.
“Particularly, agriculture system that we practice in our state to lift us from primary subsistence agricultural practices to industrial and commercial agric enterprises.
“Currently, we are establishing Agribusiness Hubs around the state.
“We have Fasola Agribusiness Hub, Work is ongoing at Eruwa Agribusiness Hub, and we recently flagged-off Ijaye Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone,” the governor said.
Earlier, the team lead, Alhaji Abubakar Yerima, commended Makinde for transforming the state through laudable infrastructural projects and investment in agribusiness.
Yerima, who is also the Director, Strategic Services, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Abuja, assured Oyo state government that the Chinese investors were ready to partner with Oyo state government.
Also speaking, the leader of the Chinese team, Ms Dong Gwping, said that the team’s intervention was expected to revolutionise the agricultural landscape in the state.
Gwping said this would stimulate socio-economic growth and development in the state for complete value chain with the provision of Chinese technologies and expertise for partnership.
