Chinese firms to invest $200million in agriculture, mining in Jigawa

Chinese businesses plan to invest $200 million in the agriculture and mining sectors in Jigawa, a delegation of investors from the country has said.

The leader of the delegation, Mr Zinyong Lu, told journalists after inspecting the Maigatari Export Processing Zone in Maigatari Local Government Area that the fund would go for chemical fertilisers, agricultural equipment and solid mineral development.

“Basically, we have been in discussions with the Jigawa government for quite a long time in China and I have also visited Jigawa two times.

“And more importantly is that as businessmen, we have potentials for business in Jigawa and Nigeria as a whole.

“And again, you have a state government that is willing to boost its agriculture and our intention is to invest in chemical fertiliser production, irrigation and production of agricultural equipment,’’ Zinyong said.

“You see, we will spend between $15 million and $200 million, but there is guarantee and it is not a one-time affair, so it has to be step by step,” he added.

The team leader expressed happiness with the export processing zone in the state, describing it as a brilliant idea.

He described the EPZ as an added advantage to the Chinese firms wishing to invest in the state as it is located on the Nigeria/Niger border.

“We are here at the Tax Free Trade Zone in Maigatari Local Government Area. We have that everything is okay.

“It is a brilliant idea because it is close to Niger, Chad and Cameroon and in all these countries their products and goods depend on Nigeria.

“So this tax free trade zone will bring reward, we have similar ones in China,” Zinyong noted.

He said that if things worked as planned, the investors would begin operations in the state by the end of 2016.

“It is better if we can start everything tomorrow, but it may be by the end of this year after we must have concluded meetings and discussions with the state government,” he explained (NAN)