The Akwa Ibom State Government has reiterated its readiness to partner the Indian Government on Information and Communication Technology, health-care delivery service and Ibaka Seaport free trade zone.
Governor Godswill Akpabio dropped this hint on Friday when the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mahesh Sachdev, paid him a courtesy visit at the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja.
Akpabio remarked: “Your presence in Nigeria has rekindled the relationship between our country and yours.
“I must applaud the Indian Government for doing well on the ICT and health sectors in their country.
“We are interested to partner the Indian Government in all areas, especially in the ICT industry, health-care delivery service and on the free trade zone of Ibaka Seaport.
“Already in Akwa Ibom State, we have taken ICT to a greater level, for which we built a state-of-the-art ICT library and have invested millions of naira in the ICT industry, which we need to take a step further with your government.
“We are also ready to partner you in the health sector, whereby Indian doctors could come into our hospitals for the treatment of our people, especially those who are not willing to travel to India.
“I have sponsored so many of our people to India for treatment, which they have always received excellent treatment.
“We are also interested in partnering Indian investors on the free trade zone of Ibaka Deep Seaport in the state, for which we are ready to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with you in those areas mentioned.”
The governor, who thanked the Indian Government for the strong economic partnership with Nigeria, stressed that it was an indication that the relationship between both countries is getting stronger as the Indian government is reaching out to states in the country, assuring the High Commissioner of the state government’s support in creating National Institute of Information Technology centre in the state.
Sachdev said his visit was to inform Akwa Ibom State graduates of the NIIT admission in India, where courses and airfare are free for the benefit of Nigeria and for the good of Nigerian graduates in a bid to blend the relationship between Indian and Nigerian governments.
On NIIT programme, the Indian High Commissioner, who explained that the institute offers learning and knowledge solutions globally to individuals, enterprises and institutes in informative technology, business process outsourcing, banking finance and insurance, executive management education, school education, communicable and professional life skills and vocational skills training, reiterated their intention to create an NIIT centre in the state.
In a similar development, the Akwa Ibom State Government has indicated its interest to also partner the Argentine Government in agriculture to enhance the growth of the nation.
Akpabio, who stated this on Friday when the Nigerian Ambassador to Argentina, Chive Kaare, paid him a courtesy visit at the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, thanked the Ambassador for choosing the state and for discussing with investors to show interest in the state through the agricultural sector.
Akpabio, who said the state has a lot to offer in agriculture through cassava and palm products, pointed out that the country is not only rich in natural resources but also rich in people, emphasizing that money should be put in strategic areas to stop unemployment in the country and that was his administration resolve for the success of the country.
Kaare said his visit was to introduce investors into the state to invest in the area of agriculture, pointing out that Argentina is agriculture endowed in soya beans, fishery and lots more.
The Ambassador disclosed that they have a training programme in Argentina for Nigerian experts in agriculture with free accommodation and feeding for the participants who would learn few things on agriculture to improve more in the sector for 20 days.
He explained that as an ambassador, his stay in Argentina would be beneficial to Nigerians, stressing that his visit was to share the same vision with the state governor.
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