Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has promised to create over 50,000 jobs in Special Agricultural Economic Zones for the well-being and economic prosperity of the people.
He disclosed this when he received officials of the African Development Bank (ADB), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI) led by Dr Chuma Ezedinma at Government House, Asaba.
Governor Oborevwori said the programme would enhance food security, agro-processing, employment creation, export earnings, and infrastructural development, ultimately increasing the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The governor thanked the delegation for shortlisting Delta State among the prosperous states in the programme. He assured his administration would do everything possible to make the programme successful.
“I welcome you all to this final mission to assess our readiness for establishing and implementing the Transformational Integrated Special Agricultural Processing Zone, for which Delta State has been shortlisted for the second phase.
He said Delta was endowed with arable land suitable for cultivating palm fruits, cassava, maise, yams, plantain, and vegetables. The Special Agricultural Processing Zone would be a hugely successful strategic addition.
“Let me state without doubt that the Special Agricultural Processing Zone is critical to our strategy to transform and strengthen the entire Agricultural ecosystem of Delta State.
“We intend to attract, engage, and recertify farms and agro value chains to the best in class using the African Development Bank template,” the governor said.
For his part, Pastor Godwin Akpovie, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Delta State Free Trade Zone said the Free Trade Zone Operations Centre in Kwale, Osubi Agro Transformation Centre, and others in Isoko and Agbor would create over 50,000 jobs for Deltans.
Earlier, China Ezedinma said Delta state had been shortlisted for the second phase of the programme and lauded the state government for its unique Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) model, which, according to him, is a pacesetter.
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