By Jonathan Ugbal; Government House Correspondent
The Cross River State government says it is seeking to strengthen ties with the Namibian government in order to create opportunities and comparative advantage in trade and commerce.
The state governor, Senator Benedict Ayade made this known when he received a Namibian delegation led by the country’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Dr. Peingeondjabi Titus Shipoh, who paid a courtesy call in his office in Calabar.
Ayade, who just returned from Cameroon where he accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari on a state visit, was represented by his deputy, Ivara Esu and urged Namibia to strengthen her ties with Nigeria and invest in Cross River State especially in agriculture.
Esu also said the current administration was opening all sectors to make the state a fertile haven for investors to thrive through the establishment of quarry, seaport, afforestation, construction of the super highway and diversity hotspots to facilitate trade, opining that the ties should focus on entrepreneurship, trade and manpower.
While informing the Namibian delegation of the tourist attractions in the state, he extended an invitation to the team for the Calabar festival scheduled for December.
Shipoh in his remarks said he was in the state for the Calabar International Tourism Expo 2015 holding in Calabar with the intention of exploring areas of similarities and differences in agriculture and culture between the state and Namibia.
Commending the hospitality of the state, Shipoh who resumed duties as High Commissioner in October 2013 gave a brief history of Namibia, a country with a population of 2.3 million people, urged the state government to develop road infrastructure to cater for the agricultural market.
He also appreciated the Nigerian government for her role in educating Namibia during their troubled days disclosing in the process that he attended the Federal Government College, Enugu during the period.
Leave feedback about this