Nigeria: China's Ceramic and Aluminum Companies to Build Plants in Ogun

Ogun State may soon play host to the biggest aluminum and ceramic producing companies in Asia. The two outfits, Asia Aluminum Company Limited and the New Zhongyuan Ceramics limited have indicated their interest to build and operate their manufacturing plants in Igbesa. This fact was disclosed when a delegation of entrepreneurs from the Guangdong Province of China visited Ogun State recently. The Province, which is jointly promoting and developing the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone, OGFTZ, in Igbesa was led by a Deputy Director, Deng Yaohua. Yaohua told the audience, which included Governor Gbenga Daniel, his economic Adviser, Yosola Akinbi, members of the Ogun State Executive Council, Ogun State Chambers of Commerce Industry and Agriculture, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, officials of Ogun State Command of the Immigration and Custom Services that the government of the Province asked him to join the delegation to underscore the importance it attached to its relationship with Ogun State. He said members of the delegation had interests in Aluminum production, furniture, power plant, electronics and ceramics manufacturing and general construction. He also said with the backing of the Chinese government and commitment of top financial institutions, the stage was set for the setting up of different manufacturing plants in the OGFTZ. He said the province of China and the entrepreneurs would use the potentials of Ogun State to move into Nigeria and the rest of Africa. Another member of the delegation Sun Jianziong of the China-Africa Investment Company said Governor Daniel should be commended for the steady progress of the zone. He said his company, which is the lead operator of the zone, would make it a showpiece saying that a target of three years has been set for the zone to be fully operational. He said given the enthusiasm being shown by Chinese investors and entrepreneurs to come to Igbesa, he was sure that about 50,000 jobs would be created in the next few years. Governor Daniel while welcoming members of the delegation said the on going development of the free trade zone is in line with his administration's vision of creating a diversified economy, promote local industries and generally create prosperity for the people. He said the coming of the Chinese entrepreneurs and manufacturers will open up the states economy, boost its internally generated revenue, create job for the people and help the development of local entrepreneurs who should develop support industries. He assured the delegation that his government would continue to support all genuine entrepreneurs who are interested in joining the ever-growing number of investors in Ogun State. The Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone is one of the eight overseas economic and trade cooperation zones approved by the Ministry of Commerce of China . Akinbi said the Zone, which is one of the three already operational in Ogun State , has been fully certified by the Nigerian government through the Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority, NEPZA. from：allafrica.com