Canada aims to collaborate with Oyo and Ogun on agriculture

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, yesterday, reiterated the determination of his administration to make the state conducive for business.

The governor, who stated this in his office, while receiving the Deputy High Commissioner, Government of Canada, Teshome Nkurumah and Trade Commissioner Assistant, Benedicta Emovuon, on a courtesy call, said that the state would continue to collaborate with partners and stakeholders on agric business to develop the state’s economy.

The governor also said that the state remains open for business and meaningful collaboration.

Makinde, who expressed optimism that Oyo State has a lot of areas Canada could leverage for partnership, said that with the state’s vast arable land, significant solid mineral deposit and tourism potentials, the prospects of doing business in the state remain enormous, especially with the recent incentives from World Bank on ease of doing business.

Earlier in his speech, Nkurumah hinted that the team was coordinating an agricultural outreach and trade promotion in the state to understand areas of prospects, as well as opportunities to facilitate partnership.

“It is indeed a pleasure to be here. One of the industries we targeted for trade promotion with Nigeria is agriculture, thus we are now undertaking an outreach campaign in this area.

“So, we are here to listen and learn. The whole goal is just to reconnect, get acquainted to understand what your priority is and how you are aiming to develop the agricultural sector in the state.

“We equally want to see if there is an alignment between the Canadian priorities and government priorities, and where we can do business.”

In a same vein, the Canadian government has stated its willingness to work with the Ogun State government on agricultural matters.