Cross River State Government is strengthening international ties, as part of efforts to boost agricultural development and protect its forest reserves.
Governor Bassey Otu during a high-level diplomatic visit in Calabar, sought strategic investment from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with a focus on oil palm processing, technology transfer, and sustainable farming practices.
It was a diplomatic engagement with economic implications, as Governor Bassey Otu received the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Michel Deelen, and his team at Government House in Calabar.
Governor Otu used the visit to highlight Cross River State’s agricultural potentials and investment-friendly climate, urging the Dutch government and private investors to take advantage of emerging opportunities in oil palm processing, cocoa, and coffee development.
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The governor outlined key reforms already underway, including a seven-year cocoa and coffee development plan, free agronomic training for farmers, and the rehabilitation of 8,500 hectares of mismanaged oil palm estates now handed over to Wilmar Industries, under the state’s Legacy Assets Reclamation Policy.
The Dutch Consul General, Michel Deelen, commended Cross River’s anti-logging efforts, pledging support for sustainable palm oil production that boosts farmer incomes without deforestation.
With increased foreign interest and strategic partnerships, Cross River is positioning itself as a model for responsible investment, where agriculture, conservation, and development go hand in hand.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
