Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno
By ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo –
Akwa Ibom State Government has reassured of its commitment to leverage on agribusiness to boost its export promotion drive.
The state government in partnership with key private sector players successfully hosted a series of roundtable conferences on agribusiness which have revived interest in agribusiness.
Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Ubong Inyang, stated this while inaugurating the Local Organising Committee for the 4th agribusiness conference in his office in Uyo, the state capital.
Inyang expressed the hope tha this year’s agribusiness conference would yield more benefits and constitute a major boost to agriculture as a business venture.
The commissioner who was represented by the Director of Industries, Essien Ibanga, said the projects under the agribusiness scheme, if implemented, would transform the sector in many ways.
According to him, development partners have indicated interest in supporting the establishment African ventures including a centre for innovative agriculture in the state.
Also speaking, the zonal coordinator of Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro Industry Development Initiative (NADDI), Howard Usen, who is also the facilitator of the conference in his remarks said the 4th agribusiness roundtable would leverage on the success of previous conferences adding that “it would look at the sector which a comparative advantage that could be harnessed to boost export drive.’’
Usen thanked the state government for the interest in reviving the agricultural sector and turning it into a profitable venture adding that the supportive role of the state government from the first edition of the conference would not be taken for granted.
The committee comprises directors in the ministry and business leaders in the agricultural sector.
