Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom has called on Chinese investors with business interests in the state to move from the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it has with the state into memorandum of action by moving in with their business investments.
The state government has in the last year signed MoUs for various projects with no less than 20 Chinese companies without any tangible progress to award of contracts and execution.
Governor Ortom who addressed the Nigeria – China Local Government and Business Dialogue going on the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Thursday said the state was waiting for the Chinese to come in and give value addition to the state agricultural primary products in the area of processing, particularly rice, soya beans and sesame seed.
Governor Ortom, who spoke through his deputy, Engr Benson Abounu said that Benue state is the best destination for Chinese investments in Nigeria particularly in agriculture given its comparative advantage as well as having a government truly committed to making agriculture the mainstay of its economy and the engine room of its industrialization drive.
He expressed delight that already, a number of Chinese companies have signified interest in coming to invest in the state in the area of agro processing, solid minerals exploration, power generation and general construction and called on them to mobilise to action, taking advantage of the friendly business environment in the state as well as the support of the government and people.
The Nigeria-China Business Dialogue is a forum where matters bordering on business investments between Nigeria and China are discussed. Katsina state governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari was another speaker at today’s event.
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