When top world industry presidents and national leaders who share
similar passions gather for a time of presentations, discussions and exchange
of ideas, magic always happens. In meetings such as this, with the right people
connecting within a sphere of good intentions and available resources, the
stage is often set for groundbreaking deals that positively impacts
participating nations.
This is exactly what occurred when Choice International Group in
partnership with the Nigerian Governors Forum brought together 15 State
Governors from Nigeria with Presidents of some of the largest conglomerates in
China for the first Nigeria-China Governors’ Investment Forum in Guangzhou,
China.
The two-day event, a first of its kind, had in attendance Governors
representing all the Geo-political zones of the country such as Gov Samuel
Ortom, Benue State; Gov Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State; Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo
State, Gov. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Kano State; Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger
State; Gov Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia State; Gov Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto State; Gov.
Kashim Shettima, Borno State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State; Dep. Gov.
Anambra State, Nkem Okeke, Dep. Gov. Ebonyi State, Others are the The
Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor of Zamfara State,
Gov. Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, Plateau, Kwara and more. The Vice Mayor of
Guangzhou, Cai Chaolin; President of GAC Group, Zeng Qinghong; President of
Choice International, Diana Chan; the Executive Secretary of the NGF, Mr.
Shittu, CEO of Del-York International; Linus Idahosa, President of the China
Africa Development Fund and many other leaders of Fortune 500 Companies from
China graced the event.
Following closely on the heels of the productive bilateral discussions
that were held in April, 2016 between His Excellency, President Muhammadu
Buhari and President of China, Xi Jinping, this Forum has brought about vital
closeness between China and Nigeria as well as broadened the diplomatic and
economic relationship between both countries.
It is the first time that such a large contingent of Nigerian state
chief executives attended the same event abroad.
OUTCOMES OF THE FORUM
The first Nigeria-China Governors’ Investment Forum would go down in
history as one event that set the tone for the sealing of major deals and an
improvement in the economic sustainability of participating states.
These outcomes from the Forum will not be forgotten in a hurry:
·
The Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, brokered a $1.5 billion
project for the establishment of a shoe industry in Aba, the commercial nerve
Centre of Abia State, from Huajian Shoe Industry in Dongguan, Guangzhou, China.
The Abia State-Huajian Shoe Industrial City, which will be located in Aba, will
have capacity to produce 5,000 shoes per day and employ about 10,000 people
directly and indirectly. The Abia State Government will provide the land and
other investment incentives for the project, while the Huajian Group will fund
the entire project.
·
The 15 State Governors and their teams visited the 121st Canton Fair in
Guangzhou which provided the opportunity for participants to among other things
access investment funding, develop new markets for Nigerian products and
services, procure machinery and explore partnership.
·
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa sealed a deal with major
manufacturing companies in China to boost mechanized farming in the state such
that farmers would have access to basic modern equipment and other necessary
tools required to make farming less cumbersome and very attractive.
·
President of fashion giants Miniso Group, Mr. Yu Guofu stated that his
organization is interested in opening hundreds of shop outlets as well as a
world-class University in Nigeria. This investment has a prospect of generating
at least 20,000 employment opportunities across Nigeria. Miniso is one of the
fastest growing retail chain businesses in the world.
·
The State Governors made several deals and connections to attract direct
foreign investment to the country, job creation for teeming Nigerian youths and
industrial revolution.
·
GAC Motor’s GA8 and GS8, which were designated as the official vehicles
for the forum, greatly impressed the delegates with their luxurious and
comfortable ride experience, original design, exquisite craftsmanship and
state-of-the-art technologies. The governors also had the unique opportunity of
going on a guided tour of the GAC Motors Factory.
NOTABLE GUESTS & QUOTES
Everyone who attended this timely event attested to the fact that it
signaled the start of an improved collaboration between Nigeria and China, with
the delegates promising their cooperation and dedication to the outcomes of the
forum.
Vice Mayor of Guangzhou, Cai Chaolin, said Nigeria as Africa’s largest
economy, and Guangzhou are highly complementary to each other in areas like
manufacturing, agriculture, cultural exchanges and infrastructure development.
Chaolin noted that there are vast potential for cooperation between the two
countries, saying: “The Guangzhou Municipal Government has always attached
great importance to all-round cooperation with Nigeria. We believe this forum
will be a great opportunity for China and Nigeria to further their long-standing
friendship, and construct a new bridge for investment activities between the
two nations.”
In her formal welcome address to the Forum, Ms. Diana Chan,
President of Choice International averred that in line with China’s
One Belt One road policy, her company is now playing a key role as part of an
increasing number of Chinese enterprises that are operating and investing in
Africa. She said: “At Choice International, we take this investment seriously
and are committed to ushering in a new blueprint to realize opportunities for
our future mutual development. More importantly, we have also been building on
relationships and enhancing opportunities for deepening the social, cultural
and economic bonds between Nigeria and China. I am certain that we can create
great possibilities together. Yes, starting from right here, with the right
people, processes and products, all these will come together for the mutual
benefit of both our nations”.
Chairman NGF and Governor of Zamfara State; Gov. Abdul’aziz Abubakar
Yari, welcomed the delegates to the forum, while emphasizing the need for
Agro mechanization; he sees this as the bedrock of Nigeria’s development. He
reiterated the need for the diversification of the Nigerian economy from oil to
Agriculture, which is one of the goals of the current administration of Nigeria
and urged the Government of China to partner in this endeavor.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom in his presentation expressed the
desire of Benue State Government to engage in joint venture through equity
participation with foreign investors, Public Private Partnership, Build,
Operate and Transfer as well as Foreign Direct Investment. “The state is a
fantastic location for the development of agriculture-allied industries due to
accessibility and abundance of raw materials and we are willing to give special
attention to infrastructure to support investment projects” the Governor said.
President of GAC Group, Zeng Qinghong while delivering his speech said
that GAC Group’s private brand GAC Motor has developed stable sales channels in
Nigeria and achieved outstanding sales records. “With automobiles as a bridge,
GAC Motor has not only benefitted Nigeria with high-quality products and
services, but has also brought management expertise and technologies there,
thus increasing employment and enabling resource integration, technological
innovation and sustainable development.
The Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa while on a tour
of some manufacturing companies in China during the two-day Forum was quoted as
saying: “We are going round everywhere to talk to big time industrialists,
manufacturers and experts in production of goods and services; and at the end
of this investment forum we should be able to commence urgent paper work with
our foreign investment partners and equipment suppliers. We are working very
hard, piloting a new era of massive socioeconomic remodelling of our state.”
According to Mr. Linus Idahosa, CEO of Del-York International –
“It is high time we began investing in our appreciating assets rather than our
depreciating assets. I was quite impressed by the speech of Prof. Haiwen of the
HSBC Business School, in which he analyzed the trajectory Nigeria’s road to
development will take as compared to that of China. It is imperative that we
place premium on human capital development. Indeed, with the opportunity of
setting up vocational institutes for skills acquisition and development that
this forum offers, we enhance the important process of bridging the gap between
industry and academia.”
The successful investment forum came to a close with a cooperation
signing ceremony that featured the presentation of commemorative plaques and
attendance certificates at an exquisitely elaborate closing banquet.
The Forum is an initiative of Choice International which is the sole
authorized representative and distributor of GAC Motors and Gree Air
conditioners in Nigeria and also the brand owners of Lontor home appliances.
Nigerian State Governors & Chinese Industry Leaders Gather for the first Nigeria-China Governors’ Investment Forum In China
Nigerian State Governors & Chinese Industry Leaders Gather for the first Nigeria-China Governors’ Investment Forum In China
When top world industry presidents and national leaders who share
similar passions gather for a time of presentations, discussions and exchange
of ideas, magic always happens. In meetings such as this, with the right people
connecting within a sphere of good intentions and available resources, the
stage is often set for groundbreaking deals that positively impacts
participating nations.
This is exactly what occurred when Choice International Group in
partnership with the Nigerian Governors Forum brought together 15 State
Governors from Nigeria with Presidents of some of the largest conglomerates in
China for the first Nigeria-China Governors’ Investment Forum in Guangzhou,
China.
.
The two-day event, a first of its kind, had in attendance Governors representing all the Geo-political zones of the country such as Gov Samuel Ortom, Benue State; Gov Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State; Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo State, Gov. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Kano State; Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger State; Gov Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia State; Gov Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto State; Gov. Kashim Shettima, Borno State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State; Dep. Gov. Anambra State, Nkem Okeke, Dep. Gov. Ebonyi State, Others are the The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Governor of Zamfara State, Gov. Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, Plateau, Kwara and more. The Vice Mayor of Guangzhou, Cai Chaolin; President of GAC Group, Zeng Qinghong; President of Choice International, Diana Chan; the Executive Secretary of the NGF, Mr. Shittu, CEO of Del-York International; Linus Idahosa, President of the China Africa Development Fund and many other leaders of Fortune 500 Companies from China graced the event.
Following closely on the heels of the productive bilateral discussions
that were held in April, 2016 between His Excellency, President Muhammadu
Buhari and President of China, Xi Jinping, this Forum has brought about vital
closeness between China and Nigeria as well as broadened the diplomatic and
economic relationship between both countries.
It is the first time that such a large contingent of Nigerian state
chief executives attended the same event abroad
The State Governors & Other Delegates on a tour of GAC Motors’ Factory
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