China to partner Kwara on industrial park

The Chinese Government has expressed readiness to partner with the Kwara State Government to develop a textile industrial park in the state.
This was made known at the weekend by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu XiaoJie, when the Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, led a state delegation and a Chinese Company, Ming Bo Jin Sheng Star Company Limited, to the Ambassador in Abuja.
Ahmed had earlier told the Ambassador that the current economic climate in the country has made it imperative for states to think outside the box if they must deliver on their electoral promises.
The governor argued that apart from the fact that “Kwara State is a gateway to the North and the South, the state is not new in midwifing realistic Public Private Partnership as exemplified by the Shonga farms initiative, a new hotbed of Commercial Agriculture in Nigeria”.
The governor, who had led a similar delegation to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enyinna Enelamah, said: “When established, the park is expected to accommodate more than 40 textile industries with the state providing necessary enabling environment to jump start the park”.
Responding, the Ambassador said China will treat the springing relationship in the textile industry with Kwara State as a priority.
According to him: “Textile is a traditional industry to China.
“It is a common knowledge that Chinese textile products compete favourably with those of Germany and Italy.
“Our companies are also conscious of cooperate social responsibility in African countries.”
The Ambassador noted that China and Nigeria share similarities in huge human and material resources, hence the reason for his country’s interest in partnering with Nigeria.