Saudi Group to Establish Multimillion Dollar Agric City In Kwara North
ILORIN-A Saudi Investment Company, Zain
Al-abdin group is to set up an Agric City in Kwara State.
The proposed Agric City, which is to
be located along the River Niger in Kwara North will comprise a
cluster of farms specializing in cultivation, processing and export
of rice, maize and vegetables.
The Chairman of the investment group,
Zain Al-Abdin Nafawi disclosed this when he and other members of the
group visited the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed at
the Government House, Ilorin.
According to the Chairman, the Agric
city will also contain facilities such as schools, hospitals, shops
and other associated services.
He noted that the project is a
multimillion dollar investment, which will commence as soon as all
paper work is completed.
Nafawi said that the project has the
backing of the Saudi Arabian government which is currently supporting
Saudi investors to invest in agriculture across the world, especially
Africa.
He explained that the choice of Kwara
for the project was because of its advances in large scale
agricultural investment as demonstrated by Shonga farm initiative and
its beneficial weather and arable land particularly along the belt of
the River Niger.
Responding, Governor Ahmed directed the
officials of the State Ministry of Agriculture to meet with the
investors to iron out modalities for the commencement of the project.
The governor welcomed the project and
expressed delight at the intention of the Saudi businessmen to invest
in Kwara State, which he said has a large population of young people
who are hardworking and are available to work on the farms and also
market the farm produce.
He further noted that the proposed
investment is in line with the government’s plan to broaden the
state economy, feed the people and provide feed stock for industries.
Alhaji Ahmed emphasized that the fact
that oil-rich Saudi Arabia is encouraging its citizens to invest in
agribusiness abroad demonstrates the timeliness of ongoing efforts to
diversify the national economy through agriculture.
Governor Ahmed said the State has all
the appropriate facilities including an airport as well as an
incoming cargo terminal that has wet storage facilities. He assured
that the government will continue to initiate policies and create
enabling environment to attract investors and support businesses in
the State.
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