If the plans of Governor Ademola ADELEKE sails through, then in no distant future Osun State will lead other states in Nigeria in the production of cocoa. He said plans had reached an advance stage to collaborate with a Chinese company towards achieving this objective.
Adeleke gave the assurance while receiving a Chinese team that was on a two-day working visit to the state. The Chinese team of investors was from Wuxi Huadong Cocoa Food Co. Ltd.
The governor who launched what he called the Cocoa revival initiative earlier in the year said, “The state’s plan covers revival of old cocoa plantations, planting of, at least, a million seedlings and development of processing factories for new cocoa products. Our agenda extends to developing partnership with agro industrial firms, from far and near.
“Our government is particularly focused on reviving the state’s Cocoa Industries Limited. We seek to go beyond becoming the first cocoa-producing State in Nigeria. We target producing and exporting Cocoa products. That explains why we are determined to revive our Cocoa Industry and even establish new factories.”
According to him, the visit of the Chinese team aligned with the programme of the state government, which also encouraged him to approve the partnership. He said, “We are open to a Memorandum of Understanding for the revival of the industry located at Ede, Osun State. I am therefore directing the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry as well as the Attorney General of the State to look into this matter and work out a partnership deal”.
The Managing Director Wuxi Huadong Cocoa Food Co. Ltd, Mr. Yan Weiqing, expressed satisfaction after the site inspection at the moribund Cocoa industry at Ede.
The company is expected to rebuild the Cocoa Processing facility and bring in new equipment.
In his remarks the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Bunmi Jenyo said ,”Osun State has comparative advantage on Cocoa production, which is the main raw material needed by the company, as well as Kolanut, Maize, Yam, Cocoyam, Sweet Potatoes, Palm Produce and varieties of fruits and vegetables”.
