The Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency has expressed its intention to mobilise investors for direct investment in agriculture and green energy in Nigeria’s northern Yobe State.
This development was announced by the Head, Emerging Industries at the agency, Yassine El Ahyani, when he received the Yobe State delegation led by the Secretary to the State Government, Baba Malam Wali, in Rabat, Morocco.
According to El Ahyani, Yobe’s rich agricultural resources, including sesame seeds and gum Arabic, have immense potential and value in the international market.
“Sesame seeds are in high demand globally and could yield significant returns for investors. Investing in agriculture would be a win-win situation for investors and their partners in Yobe State, given the increasing demand for agricultural products,” he said.
El Ahyani also highlighted opportunities for generating green energy for local use and export.
“This is another area we need to explore to create a win-win situation in the state,” he added.
Wali assured the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency that prospective investors would enjoy favourable conditions in Yobe State.
“We offer good incentives and excellent investment opportunities in agriculture, particularly in sesame seeds, gum arabic, beans, groundnuts, and other crops.
“The Yobe State government has introduced policies to promote direct investment and ease doing business in the state. Commissioner for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mustapha Goniri, noted that the onion species produced in Geidam and other parts of the state are of exceptional quality due to the unique soil, water, and sunshine combination.
“A collaborative effort between farmers, the Yobe State government, and foreign investors could create significant investment opportunities. The Yobe State cargo airport would facilitate quick delivery to global markets, the report by Punch newspaper on Tuesday quoted Wali as saying.
As part of their engagement in Morocco, the Yobe State delegation visited the AMDIE to explore tourism investment opportunities. AMDIE expressed its readiness to invest in the Dufana Canoe, the world’s second-oldest canoe, to develop tourism in Yobe State.
El Ahyani stated that the agency recognises the canoe’s rich history and tourism potential. “The canoe could generate significant economic returns, create employment opportunities, and drive infrastructural development in the state,” he said.
GIK/APA