Akwa Ibom to Partner Foreign Investor on Ceramic Production

Source: pointblanknews.com

23 Jun 2010
Government of Akwa Ibom State has indicated her interest to partner in a $1 billion investment for the harnessing of ceramic raw materials in the state. The state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio gave the indication when he received a delegation of a foreign firm, Rak Investment Authority from the United Arab Emirate on a courtesy call on him at Government House, Uyo, last week.

The state governor stated that the desire for equity participation of his administration in the investment was based on the conviction that the ceramic industry thrived in the state.

He noted that keeping aside availability of the raw material in parts of the state there exist ample confidence in the business profile and integrity of the potential partnering investors and its facilitators.

Chief Akpabio stated that starting investment in the exploration of ceramic raw materials was a right choice by the foreign firm, noting that his administration would not hesitate in channeling electricity power line from the IPP to the firm for its operations.

The governor explained further that creating an enabling working environment for the ceramic industry to grow, his administration has a futuristic plan of building a deep seaport that will aid in shipping of construction facilities and export of finished products.

He assured the firm of his administration's interest in upgrading the existing facilities at the Ibom International Airport to reflect its international standard for utilization by investors within and outside the country.

Speaking, the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee, Rtd. General Theophilus Danjuma who was present at the visit said that the delegation was on “an exploratory visit for the investigation of prospects in working with Akwa Ibom government using natural resources for ceramic production”.

The Rtd. General indicated that the “plans are targeted at using available gas resources in producing ceramic products, floor tiles and paints for adoption nationally and within the West African sub-region including exportation outside African countries”.

Also speaking, Dr. Khater
AKSG Partners Firms On Rice, Palm Oil Production; Creates 4,000 Jobs

17 Jun 2010
In a bid to attain food security and create employment for her teeming populace, the Akwa Ibom State Government has reached an understanding with three foreign firms in the United Kingdom, Israel and Malaysia for commercial production and processing of rice and palm oil for export.

The state commissioner of Information and Social Re-orientation, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, who revealed the development, stated that while the companies are funding the projects 100 per cent, the state government is providing the required minimum of 10,000 hectares of land for the project. He added that government will also retain 22 per cent of the net profit.

The commissioner also revealed that the administration has empowered 1,530 youths with N500,000 each under the Integrated Farmers Scheme (IFS) in 2009. He said government has also approved another 910 participants for 2010 in addition to the 620 drawn from the 31 LGAs in the state.

The commissioner also stated that in addition to the above, no fewer than 4,000 jobs have been created by the state government under the Commercial Agriculture Programme.

Mr. Umanah, who dropped the hint in a publication entitled “Thirty Six Months of Doing Godswill”, said that the administration has also procured a 1,800,000 metric tons food storage and processing infrastructure in Abak local Govt. Area valued at N1.5 billion under the Akwa Ibom State Food Reserve Programme.

The commissioner said that government has also voted the sum of N11 billion for Accelerated Livestock and Fish Production in the livestock and fisheries sub-sector.