Ekiti woos Chinese govt, business community for development

The Ekiti State government has canvassed the partnership of the government and people of China to achieve sustainable development in the key sectors and delivery of its four-point agenda.

The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, made the call while addressing the representatives of the Chinese government and business community at the celebration of the Chinese Lunar Year in Lagos.

The Lunar Year celebration also featured discussion on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and production capacity cooperation between China and Nigeria.

According to a statement on Tuesday signed by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, Egbeyemi spoke on business and economic opportunities available in Ekiti for potential Chinese investors and business community.

Egbeyemi listed areas Ekiti would need China’s support to include training and retraining of workers, mechanized and commercial agriculture, healthcare delivery, development of educational institutions and establishment industries to absorb unemployed youths.

The forum was attended by Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Pingjan; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mr. Muda Yusuf, Director General of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Ayoola Olukanmi, among others.

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The deputy governor said the state has both human and inherent natural resources for the development and sustenance of capital investment in the State.

Revealing the intention of the Fayemi administration on mechanized and commercial farming, Egbeyemi, explained that Ekiti State was blessed with vast virgin land and yet to be accessed natural resources that could boost the economy of the country if properly harnessed.

Egbeyemi sought the intervention of Chinese government in provision of vaccine for immunization and equipment for its hospital to enhance health services accessibility to the people especially those at the grassroots.

This, he said, would reduce infant mortality rate, morbidity and the spread of infectious diseases.

Egbeyemi who revealed plans to partner Chinese government on development of its educational institutions in the State said such development would help produce self-dependent graduates and reduce unemployment in the State.

The deputy governor charged the Chinese government who he claimed had benefitted from award of contracts from Ekiti State government to allow the people of the State feel its presence by establishing companies and investing in the economy of the State.

The four point agenda on which the Fayemi administration anchors its economic revival plan are social investment, knowledge economy, agricultural and rural development and infrastructural development.

In his address, the Chinese envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Pingjian revealed that the initiative would focus on industrial promotion, infrastructural connectivity, trade facility, green development, capacity building, health care, people to people exchange and security initiative.

Pingjian expressed confident and readiness of China to deepen and sustain cooperation with Nigeria in the realization of the joint construction of the Belt and Road initiative.