Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday said his administration would remain committed to ensuring a business-friendly environment while describing the establishment of a new multimillion naira cashew processing factory in the state as a good development.
AbdulRazaq said the goal, among other things, ‘is to make Kwara a hub for cashew nuts processing in Nigeria’.
Abdulrazaq’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye noted in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com that the governor said this during his visit to a newly established cashew processing plant; Annie Glidden Commodities (AG) Nig. Ltd at Eiyenkorin, Ilorin, the capital city.
‘My coming here is to encourage local investment. As you know, Kwara is a major producer of cashew nuts, and Nigeria is putting more interest in cashew processing. So it is a good thing to have a local production and make sure we export processed cashew nuts, rather than raw cashew nuts. So this investment is a major one. I think this is about the third major cashew company in the state’ he said.
Abdulrazaq added that it will be logical and more lucrative to have the cashew nuts processed locally for export than to ferry out the raw nuts, adding that the government will leave no stone unturned to encourage all cashew processing companies in the state to thrive.
He acknowledged the commitment of AG Commodities Nig Ltd to growing the local economy through their investment, and congratulated them on the start of operations, saying the administration is ready for partnership.
“Our vision is to have Kwara as the leading processor of cashew in Nigeria. So this is another reason to come here and look at their investment and encourage the company, and to also see how the state can partner with the company to scale up the processes’ he added.
Managing Director of AG Commodities Nig Ltd, Ademola Adesokan said the decision to locate the company in Kwara was because of its strategic location in the cashew belt, its good road network, as well as the business -friendly policies of the government.
He said at least 120 Kwarans have been engaged in the company for manual handling of the cashew nuts daily.
The governor has also said Kwara will focus on agroprocessing as a strategic roadmap to economic growth and prosperity. The government itself had approved the establishment of a shea butter processing firm in Kaiama local government area in the northern part of the state-Team@orientactualmags.com
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