Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu has performed the opening ceremony of Cross River Trade Fair 2024 held at U.J. Esuene stadium, Calabar.
Governor Otu, who was represented by Peter Odey, the Deputy Governor praised Cross River State Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with Calabar Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture and Ikom Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture for organizing the Trade Fair with support from Tulip Cocoa & NCAA-Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.
In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Commerce, Abigail Duke Orok said that Cross River State is potentially Nigeria’s 2nd largest economy and it is re-positioning for value and high yielding investments in a variety of sectors where it has comparative advantage including agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing, tourism and services to create wealth and a shared prosperity for the people.
Director General, Cross River State Bureau of Public Private Partnerships, Francis Ntamu, in a paper presentation titled: ‘Unlocking the investment opportunities in Cross River State’ revealed that the State economy reflects its strategic location with vast natural resources and a reputation as a safe place to live, work and invest accommodating over 18,000 Km of arable land, suitable for cultivation of a variety of crops including but not limited to cocoa, oil palm, coffee, Rubber, Rice, Banana/plantain, cassava.
The state in his reckoning, is also endowed with abundant solid mineral resources including, limestone, Barite, Kaolin, manganese, lithium, granite and quartz.
Good will messages were received from the President, Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mr. David Etim and his Ikom Counterpart, Mrs. Flora Agbiji Takim-Ndifon.
The occasion featured cutting of Trade Fair Tape and Tour of Trade Fair grounds by His Excellency in company of dignitaries at the event which include High Chief Edem Duke, former Minister of Culture and Tourism, High Chief Etubom Bassey Ndem, representative from Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments and Republic of Cameroon Consulate.
Members of the Cross River State Executive Council were present and some local government council Chairmen whose stands were undergoing erection while Republic of Cameroon and Companies from the Calabar free Trade zone like combination industries makers of Cheese balls among others show cased their products at the Trade fair which will wind down on November 26th, 2024.
