Olusegun Aganga, minister of industry, trade and investment, has inaugurated an ultra-modern Flour Mills’ 70,000 metric tons integrated Eastern Feed Mills in Calabar, Cross River State, said to be sub-Saharan Africa’s largest feed mill.
Aganga also commended Governor Liyel Imoke for creating what he described as “good business environment” that has made the state capital to be a haven for investors; with over $3bn in foreign direct investments in the state in the last three years.
The multi-billion naira ultra-modern integrated Eastern Premier Feed Mills Company Limited is a subsidiary of Flour Mills of Nigeria plc.
“I commend Governor Liyel Imoke for operating a business-friendly environment for investors. In the last three years, they have always had something fantastic to say about the state and its people. I cannot thank you enough for creating such environment in the country,” Aganga said.
He lauded Flour Mills for being one of the first to key into the industrial revolution plan by investing in various businesses to create employment in many parts of the country.
He disclosed that the country was witnessing tremendous growth under the present administration through its various policies and reforms to stimulate the industrial sector; adding that the Industrial Revolution Plan was aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s industrialisation, diversify its economy, as well as increase revenue.
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He said, “General Electric went round the country in search of where to establish its business, and finally chose to invest in Calabar. I am happy they are investing more money in a technical school to train young people in line with its capacity needs to support its multibillion dollar energy investment in the state.”
John G. Coumantaros, the chairman of Flour Mills plc, disclosed that the mill is the largest in sub-Saharan Africa, with capacity to create 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, with the hope of turning Cross River into a “Chicken Republic.”
Coumantaros said that the feed mill’s products are intended to produce biggest, fattest, most tendering and delicious chickens in Nigeria.
He said the company intends to diversify into other agro-allied-based investments in the state to boost production.
Rolf Burckhardt, the managing director of the Company, said the mill is capable of producing 70,000 metric tons daily; and that Calabar was found suitable for it because of available seaport, suitable labour and raw materials; and that their target was to serve the entire poultry farmers in the federation.
Governor Imoke said the commissioning of the feed mill was a celebration of confidence which the investors have in the local economy, which shows that Nigeria is not only safe and good to do business, but has opportunities to do business.
“I am excited that Flour Mills will increase its investments in the state, and in few years, Cross River will become Chicken Republic. I appreciate the President because what we are seeing today is a realisation of his transformation agenda to turn Nigeria into the largest economy in Africa.”
The governor explained that the state, through its policy, has created the right environment to become investors’ haven to attain the status of a key destination through PPP; stressing that “we do not only want to be investors’ haven, but also the next industrial hub in Nigeria.”
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