EBONYI State government has intensified plans with the Chinese government to set up a solar panel and battery manufacturing factories in the state with $4 million initial capital investment.
In a statement delivered yestayday by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), the state Governor, David Umahi, made this known at the Governor’s Lodge when he hosted the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pinjian.
According to the statement, the governor acknowledged the immense contribution of China in both infrastructural and technological development in the state and Nigeria, saying that 10 Chinese construction companies are already handling different projects, while 20 are handling mining activities in the state.
Umahi said, “discussions are expected to end by April for the solar panel factory as well as the battery production factory and a sum of $4 million will be paid. We therefore solicit the ambassador to get more Chinese investors in areas of zinc and lead processing in the state.”
He added: “Also, we have concluded plans to sponsor 26 indigens of Ebonyi State to China to acquire technological know-how for replication of knowledge in the state, two persons from each Local Government Area (LGA) out of the 13 LGAs, so we need more Chinese cooperation in areas of agricultural development in rice and yam, among others, to boost local produce and internal revenue.”
Responding, the Chinese Ambassador, Zhou Pinjian, called on the Nigerian government to take advantage of the new China-Africa joint cooperation to promote industrialisatiom and made-in-Nigeria products, among other benefits, saying that the Chinese government, as a matter of policy, has opened its door wider to other countries for coordination and cooperation for mutual benefits.
“China’s economic openness policy emanates from its Beijing Conference held last September to promote joint construction and building initiative, which Nigeria and other African countries can key into for mutual benefits,” he maintained.
Zhou commended the state governor for his passion for economic emancipation of the state through agricultural revolution and industrialisation. He reiterated the readiness of the Chinese government to collaborate with the state to achieve its desired goals.
“I urge you to maximise the China international import and export as well as the annuall country fair to launch your products at the international market,” he added.
-Sun