Investment opportunities: Cross River State Government woos South African Consulate
By Sixtus Uket (Calabar)
Cross River State Investment Promotion Bureau has called on the South African Consulate in Nigeria to take advantage of the abundant investment opportunities that spread across the 18 Local Government Areas and get South African businessmen and women to invest in the State.
The Director General, Cross River State Investment Promotion Bureau, Barr. Rosemary Tutu Ekeng made the call, recently in Calabar, during the South African Consul-General, Mr. Bobby Moore’s visit to the State.
Barr. Ekeng further informed the Consul-General that Cross River State Government has set up a One Stop Investment Centre (OSIC) with representatives from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies for prompt enquiries and propositions, which cover up to 50 percent of investors’ needs, with just a click on the website.
She also revealed that the Bureau is currently in partnership with the World Bank on a project focused on investment promotion in the State, adding that the present administration places priority to improving methods of doing business in the State.
Earlier, the host of the event and Commissioner for Commerce Pst. (Barr.) RoseMary Archibong, expressed delight at the international investment interests in the State. She applauded the South African Consulate for indicating interest in partnership and social coalitions.
Highlighting the abundant potentials of the State in commerce, industry, tourism, agriculture, among others, the Commerce Commissioner also called on the South African envoy to leverage on the abundant opportunities in Cross River State.
Archibong further expressed optimism that the impending alliance would be mutually beneficial to both the State and potential investors.
In his remarks, the South African Consul-General, Mr. Bobby Moore, described Cross River State as “a home,” noting that, the visit was his third to the state.
He said the Consulate had identified some commercial areas of interest and that he was in the State to resuscitate the already-existing partnership with the State Government.
He enumerated some areas for possible collaboration to include the purification and bottling of the spring water in the Obudu Ranch Resort, which he averred, “will create opportunities for the local community, agriculture, agro processing, as well as technology transfer from South Africa to Cross River State.”
