Ukraine (Europe Food Basket) Promises To Mobilise Ukrainian Companies For Agritech Nigeria Osun 2019

L-R: Yahaya Majeed, Executive Director, Agritech Nigeria, Ms Olena Nedryhailo, representative of Ukraine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ambassador Dr Valerii Aleksandruk, SSA on Federal Matters to the Governor of the State of Osun and Taiwo Adelu, Program Director, Agritech Nigeria at the Embassy of Ukraine Friday afternoon  

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria, H.E. Dr. Valerii Aleksandruk made a surprised revelation to the Team of Agritech Nigeria Osun 2019 that visited him at the Embassy premises Friday afternoon that he has been mobilising the participation of Ukrainian companies for the first-ever agro technology exhibition and conference in Nigeria tagged Agritech Nigeria Osun 2019.

The Ambassador, who received the Team of Agritech Nigeria at the Embassy in company of Ms Olena Nedryhailo, representative of Ukraine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Nigeria and the First Secretary for Economic Issues, Mr. Serhii Yushkevych, said that the Agritech Nigeria is coming at a good time for Nigerian agriculture to be exposed to the latest technological advancements, adding that Ukraine as a country and its various companies have been informed about the event which holds in Osogbo, the capital city of the State of Osun from 26-28 March, 2019.

In his words: “I want to firstly appreciated the Governor of the State of Osun for inviting me to the sensitisation dinner held last month, it was an eventful evening. I want to say that at the Embassy level we have cover a lot of ground for Ukraine’s participation as we have written to Ukraine on this and also informed major agricultural companies. That is the reason I told the representative of our Chamber of Commerce and Industry to be present at this meeting because she is in of mobilising those companies for the Agritech event.

“We are looking forward towards this event with high expectation because we are one of the renowned agricultural countries in the world. That is why they called us “Europe Food Basket”.

“I have been in Nigeria in the last three and half years. I was at the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari. I was so fascinated with this man especially the policy of diversifying the economy to agriculture, this is laudable. He said he would love to see that Nigerians are eating what they can produce and Ukraine would do all within its power to support the country and most especially the Agritech Nigeria.

“To be honest with you, I really like the template the organisers are following by involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has been able to mobilise all foreign missions for this noble project. I want to thank you people.

“I want to advise the Government of Osun State to ensure that it carries along regions to regions in Nigeria for this programme because Agritech Nigeria Osun 2019 is to make agriculture practical in this country and we are ready to support the organisers.

“By early March next year, Ukraine is organising a manufacturing trade show in Lagos for three days and the plan is to take those companies which will attend this fair to attend Agritech Nigeria which is holding in the same month. We are working on this.

“This year alone we had organised series of business forums in Lagos, Abuja and few other cities with the target of bringing Ukraine business community to Nigeria to do business.

“I will like to meet the new Governor of Osun State as soon as he settles down in office after his swearing in for us to discuss generally on how Ukraine can have bilateral deals with the state. This will surely help the state.”

In her comments, representative of Ukraine Chamber of Commerce requested that she would like to visit Osogbo to look at the environment of the venue of the Agritech event and assess other vital things in relationship to the preparation for the event.