The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has struck a deal with a visiting delegation of investors from the Hebei Province of the People’s Republic of China.
The Minister, who received the visitors in his office in Abuja today, got a commitment from them that they would invest in the Territory.
that what they saw made a deep impression on the delegation. He had impressive words for Abuja’s pleasant environment and good planning, while observing that Nigeria has indeed laid a good foundation for an economically viable city.
The Chinese investors said that they are eager to partner with Abuja in many mutually beneficial fields.
“There are obviously many complementary features, potentials and space for cooperation between Abuja and Hebei Province.”
The Deputy Governor of Hebei, China and leader of the delegation, Wang Xiaodong, said that theirs is one of the biggest economic regions among the 31 provinces and municipalities in China.
According to the Deputy Governor, Hebei has an area of 188,000sq km and 74million population with a GDP of $500million by its 2016 estimates.
He said that Hebel is located in an area contiguous to Beijing, the Chinese capital and is fully industrialized with a developed commuter transport system.
He said that iron and steel potentials is estimated at 200m tons coming out as one of the leading steel producers in the world, even as annual output of cement is 120b million tons.
According to the delegation said that flat glass output in the province is estimated at 100 million tons, coupled with its advanced development in agriculture and agro allied processing.
“We have an advanced investment in agriculture. Production of fruits, cotton, meat, oil, milk and dairy production play very prominent roles in our economic life ranking us from the 2nd to the 5th in China respectively.”
Mr. Xiaodong expressed optimism in Nigeria.
The delegation, made up of 20 high profile players like Zhao Dianlong, President of the Chinese Construction firm, CCECC and Huang Xianghua, Deputy President of China Fortune ltd, the best company in city planning in China with assets valued at over 200bn RMB.
Others were Zhu Hong, Deputy President, Shijiazhuang Junlebao Dairy Co. Ltd a top level firm in the world in cow breeding and dairy processing as well as Li Manchang, MD Baoding Shuofeng Ltd, a leading producer of cotton in the world.
The FCT minister had stressed the need for the Chinese investors to take advantage of the fertile ground which Abuja provides for foreign direct investment.
He said that the city is strategically located and has conducive atmosphere, security and attractive incentives.
“The green fields in phases four and five of the Federal Capital Territory are very well suited for investment in agriculture and agro-processing. We have a centralized airport and our railways would soon be fully developed in the next couple of years. Abuja is, therefore, a good place to set up factories for agricultural machinery and spare parts. These can be transported either by rail, when it is ready or by air through FCT cargo terminal.”[myad]
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