FG partners Foreign
FG partners Foreign Investors in
Agricbusiness
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development, Dr Mohammed Bello Umar has said that Nigeria
is open to foreign investors to invest in agribusiness in line with
the administration’s drive to diversify the economy, stating
that Nigeria has all the features of development with abundant raw
materials.
He gave the remarks at an interactive session between
the management staff of the Ministry and a team of Belgian
investors under the auspices of Flanders Investment and Trade
Agency, today in Abuja. He said, “ Nigeria is open to the
international community that want to do genuine business especially
in agriculture”. According to him, the focus of the administration
is to develop agriculture and secure the enabling environment for
the nation to become an investor’s heaven, adding that Nigeria has
the land, resources and the labour that will translate the
vision into reality.
Dr Umar pointed out that “ what we are trying to do is
to reduce poverty and the fastest way to do that is through
agriculture”. stating that Nigeria should be able to feed her
people from what she produces. “We must eat what we produce because
any nation that cannot feed itself cannot survive, “all we require
is increased capacity, technology transfer and collaboration with
foreign investors”, he said.
The Permanent Secretary urged the team to
focus on inputs in the on-going government initiatives in the
sector especially in the area of mechanization as government is
de-emphasing importation and rather promoting exportation of its
products. He assured that Nigeria is ready to provide the raw
materials for the foreign companies to leverage on and assist to
beef up its exportation potentials.
The Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency,
Daniel Dargent who led the team of investors to the Ministry,
assured that Belgium will continue its cordial partnership with
Nigeria and promote the common ideals of both countries. He said
the presence of the investors to Nigeria is a proof of the
persistent interest of Belgian companies for Nigeria and hopes that
the visit will build upon the positive macro- economic
trends of the Nigerian economy and strengthen its economic
ties.
Flanders Investment and Trade project coordinator, Mr
Malin Johan, said that the agency’s core agenda is to promote
sustainable international business in the interest of both Flander-
based companies and overseas enterprises. It also identifies,
informs, advises and supports overseas enterprises .
Areas of collaboration during the interactive
session included: technical assistance, mentoring and coaching,
support to women SMS’s sourcing through inclusive agric-value
chains , potassium sulphate based fertilizes, sulphuric
derivatives, crop protection, gelatin and processing of organic
by-products in the industry. Also discussions were on how to use
extracts and concentrates valuable animal proteins from blood, eggs
and skins as by-products from the food chain including feeds, pet
food amongst others.
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