The Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has expressed the willingness of his administration to key into the operation double your export campaign of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, to enhance non export oil activities.
The governor who spoke at a stakeholders forum on development of non oil commodities in Makurdi, maintained that promoting such activities would stimulate investment in the state.
Represented by commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Alumo Orpin, Governor Alia revealed that already his administration was working on an export strategy document to provide for the non oil export activities in the state, adding that to achieve the goal his administration was equally addressing infrastructural gaps, enhancing market access, streamlining regulatory processes as well as investing in skills development and technology adoption.
Alia also stressed the need for a collaborative effort between government and the private sector as well as the civil society organisations and the academia to overcome the battle in order to unlock the food potentials of the non oil export products that abound in the state.
The President Benue Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture, BCCMA, Orbem Yakubu while commenting, emphasized the need for a paradigm shift for the discussion to yield positive results.
Yakubu noted that the state has untapped potentials waiting to be tapped but pointed out that government and financial institutions must show commitment to utilize such potentials.