On the trail of Ayade’s mission to Asia

In recent weeks, the governor of Cross River State Senator Benedict Benyaushuye Ayade has criss-crossed the Asian countries of Japan, Thailand and China, with the sole aim of attracting investors to the state. It will be safe to say that the trip was a huge success with the governor returning with a bag of goodies […]

In recent weeks, the governor of Cross River State Senator Benedict Benyaushuye Ayade has criss-crossed the Asian countries of Japan, Thailand and China, with the sole aim of attracting investors to the state.
It will be safe to say that the trip was a huge success with the governor returning with a bag of goodies for the state.
The governor’s tour of Asia kicked off in Tokyo, Japan, where he attended the first Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)/Japan Business Forum in Hyatt Regency, Tokyo, Japan.
While addressing the gathering, Ayade passionately called for closer ties between the government and people of Japan and ECOWAS countries.
Describing the Japanese as very warm people who are ever willing to share knowledge with other people, he said strengthening ties with Japan will be most beneficial to the ECOWAS countries seeking to close the technology gap with the developed world.
Done at the business forum, the governor went into a meeting with the leadership of the Japan Gas Corporation (JGC). The agenda of the meeting was simply to work out modalities for the establishment of a Modular Refinery with an initial 10,000 barrel per day production capacity.
With the state also sitting atop huge gas deposit, Ayade wants Cross River State to have her own mini Liquified Natural Gas Corporation.
At the end of the meeting, Ayade extracted a firm commitment from JGC regarding the projects.
In Thailand, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Cross River and a Thai firm – Thai-Africa Corporation, for the development of what would certainly become the first Rice City in Africa.
Governor Ayade signed the MoU on behalf of the government and people of Cross River State in Bangkok while the Executive Director of the Thai-Africa Corporation, Ms Pantipa Dhangom, signed on half of her organization.
The objective is to make Cross River the biggest producer of rice in the country.
According to the MoU, Thai-Africa will be the core investor, who will develop the Rice City project in partnership with Cross River State government.
Details of the project as highlighted in the MoU indicate that the Rice City will have a solar mediated and automated rice seedling and nursery propagation centre, rice plantation with irrigation infrastructure and mill including packaging and distribution.
The centre will also have an Agriculture Training Centre, which will oversee the development of various economic crop projects including but not limited to oil palm, sugar cane, cassava, maize, soya beans and more.
It will also have a full mechanized site clearing, planting, weeding and harvesting equipment.
Thai-Africa Corporation is to facilitate international funding for the execution of the various projects.
In China, Ayade signed some very important MoU’s with the Henan Province of China and with some Chinese investors led by China Machinery and Engineering Corporation (CMEC).
The MoU with Henan Province followed a strong commitment from the Province officials to make multi-billion dollars investments in Cross River State.
The expected investments include an industrial City where cars and spare parts would be manufactured.
The MoU signed between Ayade and Henan provisional Government Commissioner, Mr. Jiao Jinmiao will also lead to the building of power plants, bonded warehouses and distribution centres in the state, thereby ensuring the development of a huge manufacturing base and modern infrastructures in Cross River State.
At the signing ceremony, Mr. Jinmiao explained that apart from the above stated investments earmarked for Cross River, plans are equally on top gear by his province to lead a delegation of about 100 companies to Cross River, and that the intention of these companies is to set up different industries/companies in the state.
Similarly, Ayade’s travel to these countries has also led to the signing of MoU with some Chinese investors, led by China Machinery and Engineering Corporation (CMEC) to make Calabar the first smart city in Nigeria.
The success of Ayade’s Asian trip has elicited several reactions from Cross Riverians.
Victoria Alo Adie said she was proud of Cross River State. “This is so nice, I am so proud of my state.”
Prince Thomas Abi Jr stated that “All the critics of Governor Ayade do not mean well for Cross River State. The governor should be commended for his efforts. Cross Riverians should be thankful to God for giving them a governor like Ayade and be appreciative of him for taking the state from a Civil Service state to one driven by industry and commerce where the state can create over a billion naira monthly from the 4G internet he intends to put in place. All his investment moves are timely. I’m glad with the moves by Ayade.”
Stressing on the transformation of the state and its people, Didi Etta, said “the governor’s investment quest will empower Cross Riverians and move the state from a Civil Service one to an industrialized one. The efforts are developmental and the governor must be commended.”
Bassey wrote this opinion from Cross River State Government House, Calabar