June 27, (THEWILL) – Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr Ubong Inyang, has said that the State would leverage on agribusiness to boost the export promotion drive.
The Commissioner stated this during the inauguration of the Local Organising Committee for the 4th agribusiness conference in his office in Uyo, the state capital.
According to him, the state government has, in partnership with key private sector players, successfully hosted a series of roundtable conferences on agribusiness, which have revived interest in agribusiness.
He expressed the hope that this year’s agribusiness conference would yield more benefits and constitute a major boost to agriculture as a business venture.
The Commissioner, represented by Essien Ibanga, the Director of Industries and the dean of directors, said the projects under the agribusiness scheme, if implemented, would transform the sector in many ways.
According to him, development partners have already indicated interest in supporting the establishment of African ventures, including a centre for innovative agriculture in the state.
Also speaking, Howard Usen, the zonal coordinator of Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro Industry Development Initiative (NADDI), said the 4th agribusiness roundtable would leverage on the success of previous conferences, adding that “it would look at the sector which has a comparative advantage that could be harnessed to boost export drive.’’
Usen, who is also the facilitator of the conference, thanked the state government for the interest in reviving the agric 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 agric sector, within and outside the state.
