By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has asked the Indonesian government to set up textile industries in Niger state because of the massive availability of cotton in the state.
Governor Bello enjoined Indonesian investors to cash in on the abundance of high quality cotton, cheap labour and other related raw materials that abound in the state to establish textile companies in the state.
The Governor gave the open invitation when he played host to the Indonesia Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Harry Purwanto in his office.
He acknowledged the uniqueness of Indonesian textile fabrics which he assured the Indonesian envoy would be massively patronized by Nigerians.
“We want to assure the Indonesian business communities of conducive business opportunities that guarantee not only maximum profits for their investments but adequate security of their lives and investments”, Bello said.
He commended the Indonesian Small Medium Enterprise, (SME) sector and expressed his administration’s desire to collaborate with the Asian country with a view to developing and perfecting the state’s SME sector.
“We are impressed by the way your country handles her SMEs. We are ready to partner with you to develop our SMEs the way you have developed yours,” the Governor told the visiting Indonesian Ambassador.
Niger state with its agrarian nature and verse land, Bello assured is ready and willing to collaborate with Indonesia in the areas of agriculture, tourism and youth development which he said are the priority areas of focus of his administration.
Governor therefore acceded to the request by the Indonesian Ambassador for the allocation of land for the sitting of an Industrial Park, to be situated at Tegina, in Rafi Local Government area of the state for the manufacturing of Indonesia products.
The Indonesia Ambassador, Mr. Harry Purwanto had earlier told Governor Bello of interests by investors from his country to collaborate with Niger state government in developing the vast natural and economic potentials of the state.
Indonesia and Nigeria have a lot in common and stands to benefit from the over half a century diplomatic relationship between the two countries, the Ambassador said, adding that a team of investors had earlier visited Nigeria with the sole aim of establishing an industrial park for Indonesian products.
