Michael Onjewu, Abuja
The Kogi State government has announced an agreement with the People’s Republic of China for the development of the Kogi Hunan Special Economic Zone, which will operate under the status of a Free Trade Zone.
According to a statement by Ismaila Isah, special adviser on media to Governor Usman Ododo, the agreement was finalized on Tuesday when the governor hosted a delegation of Chinese investors and consular officials led by Yan Yuqing, the consul general of China in Lagos.
During the meeting, Governor Ododo emphasized the state government’s commitment to ensuring that all necessary infrastructure and regulatory frameworks are established to facilitate the smooth launch and timely completion of the project.
“We are committed to making the Kogi Hunan Special Economic Zone a model of industrial and economic transformation,” Ododo said. “Everything required for the seamless execution of this project will be provided in collaboration with our private sector partners to ensure its success.”
In her remarks, Yuqing said the Kogi Hunan Free Trade Zone is spearheaded by the government of Hunan Province, with strong backing from the Chinese government. She reiterated the importance of Chinese investors in Nigeria to actively support and engage in the project, emphasizing the long-standing bilateral commitments between Nigeria and China.
“The Kogi Hunan Free Trade Zone is a strategic initiative that reflects the deep economic and trade ties between China and Nigeria. Our investors are eager to explore and contribute to this partnership to drive sustainable development and industrial growth,” Yuqing noted.
Inda Salam, chief economic adviser to Kogi State, described the free trade zone as an ambitious project that requires full commitment from both the state government and its private sector partners.
He assured the delegation that the state government would leverage global best practices in free trade zone development to guarantee the project’s success.
As part of their visit, the Chinese delegation toured strategic infrastructure in Ajaokuta, the designated site for the Kogi Hunan Special Economic Zone, which will span 3,000 hectares in the Ajaokuta economic development corridor.
