Ibadan: 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 committed to exploring modern technologies to improve and transform agricultural practices in the state.
According to him, investments in agricultural development and value chains are part of the vision 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 generating thousands of employment opportunities and improving revenue drive”.
“So, we stand ready in Oyo State to embrace whatever technology improves our system.
“Particularly, the agricultural system that we practice in our state has lifted us from primary subsistence agrarian practices to industrial and commercial farming enterprises.
Currently, we are establishing Agribusiness Hubs around the state.
“We have the 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 the Oyo state government that the Chinese investors were ready to partner with the 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 stated that this initiative would stimulate socio-economic growth and development in the state by providing a complete value chain, along with Chinese technologies and expertise for partnership.
