Bangladesh’s Envoy Visits Oyetola, Promises Investments In Osun

The High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, Md. Sharmeem Ahsan (left) and the Executive Governor of the State of Osun, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola when the envoy visits. 

 The High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Nigeria, Md. Sharmeem Ahsan has revealed his country’s plans to make the State of Osun its destination as Bangladesh is planning to bring more foreign investments to Nigeria.

The High Commissioner came on a visit to the Executive Governor of the State of Osun, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola at the Oduduwa House, the Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja last weekend, to discuss issues of bilateral relationship and more importantly Bangladesh’s participation in the first-ever agro technology exhibition and conference tagged Agritech Nigeria Osun 2019, which holds in Osogbo from 26-28 March, 2019.

Agritech Nigeria Osun 2019 is an international exhibition and conference on agriculture, farm machineries, dairy, poultry, water technology, livestock equipment, agriculture processing technologies, crop science and environmental control. It is being organized by the Government of the State of Osun, Fesco Agalu Enterprises Nigeria Limited, Kenes Exhibition of Israel, organiser of Agritech Israel in the last 20 years and SIFAX Group of Companies.

The Bangladesh Envoy told the Governor that his country is very passionate in doing business with Nigeria because the two nations share a lot in common, and would be willing to connect the State of Osun with a number of companies back home in Bangladesh in the area of agriculture, pharmaceutical, textile and others.

“I am here to assure the Governor that Bangladesh will be sending a high power delegation to this agriculture mega event taking place in your state next year’s March.

“I want to also assure that Bangladesh will be very much keen to work with the state government in a beneficial relationship. Despite our small land mass, I can tell you that we are self sufficient feeding our over 160 million population and at the same time feeding some of our neighbouring countries.

“Our participation in the Agritech event is very important for us to share our experience and success story in agriculture with Nigerians.

“Apart from agriculture, we are also good in the areas of pharmaceutical and textiles. I will discuss with a number of companies in Bangladesh on the need for them to come to your state to establish their companies. My experience since I came to Nigeria shows that drugs are too expensive in Nigeria. There are a good number of areas which Bangladesh can be of good help to your state,” the High Commissioner said.

In his response, Governor Oyetola said that the State of Osun is opened to investors, adding that the government is ready to facilitate acquisition of land for investors coming to the state and to ease the burden of community bottleneck in getting land.

“We have resources to assist any investors coming to the state. Osun is an agrarian society and we are ready to partner any country to develop agriculture in the state to guarantee food security. We have done a few things in agriculture in past and we still want to do more, unfortunately our agriculture in this country is not driven by technology.  So if Bangladesh, a small in size, could be feeding its huge population, that means we have a lot to learn from you and we are ready for this cooperation. I’m looking forward to having partnership that will work for us and Bangladesh.

“We are trying to bring our youth into agriculture and create employment, that is the reason we want more agro-allied companies in the state. The government is planning to set up an industrial park that will basically be for agriculture and agro-allied companies,” he said.

According to the Governor, the state is known to be peaceful, hospitable and the people are friendly to visitors.

“While we are looking forward to relationship to boost our agriculture, there are other areas such as mining, tourism and ICT we will want assistance. The State of Osun has large deposit of gold. There are also a good number of tourist sites with robust historical heritage. The state is ready to go into knowledge transfer with foreign countries of the world to boost our economy,” he said.

Governor Oyetola, however, commended the Team of Agritech Nigeria Osun 2019 for their effort to develop the state economically, adding that his government is looking forward to the organisation of the agric trade fair in March next year.

L-R: Exhibition Manager, Agritech Nigeria, Ms Nancy Ottah, Program Director, Agritech Nigeria, Mr. Taiwo Adelu, Executive Director, Agritech Nigeria, Mr. Yahaya Majeed, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria, Md. Sharmeem Ahsan, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun, Commissioner for Federal Matters, State of Osun, Mrs. Idiat Babalola and  Special Adviser on MDG to former Governor of the state, Mr. Binuyo Abdullahi..