The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chinese Firms

  • Ekiti, Chinese firms sign MoU on energy, infrastructure, agric development

    Ekiti, Chinese firms sign MoU on energy, infrastructure, agric development

    The Ekiti State Government has entered a Cooperation Framework Agreement with the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises Working Committee for Overseas Cooperation and the Belt and Road Africa Economic Promotion Initiative Centre. 

    The agreement aimed to drive significant investments in the state across various sectors, including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, technology and aviation was signed by Governor Biodun Oyebanji on behalf of the state government

    Speaking at the ceremony in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital, Governor Oyebanji described the partnership as historic, adding that CASME comprising over 20,000 member companies, would facilitate infrastructures development, including agricultural parks, new energy power facilities and smart parks.

    The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro, highlighted that projects under the agreement including the overall planning and construction of agricultural parks and energy facilities by Sinomec-He Chengdu Heavy Machinery Co. Ltd (CDHMC).

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    Others were smart park development by the IT Electronics Eleventh Design & Research Institute Scientific and Technological Engineering Corporation Limited (EDRI), and civil aviation aircraft production and services by Aloong Aircraft (Jingmen) Company Limited (ALAC).

    Oyebanji explained that the partnership would enhance the state’s economy as well as provide job opportunities for the youths. 

    The Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment, Mrs. Omotayo Adeola, emphasized the importance of the MoU, noting that the Chinese partners were committed to sourcing investors who will bring their own resources to the projects.

    “This is their second visit to Ekiti. They first came in July, assessed our infrastructural and investment need and have since identified companies interested in investing here,” she explained.

    The Chairman of BRAEPIC, Prince Innocent Okonkwo noted that the initiative serves as an economic bridge between China and Nigeria and promised to attract more investors to Ekiti, adding that the delegation included companies from the information technology, air transportation and mining sectors.

    Prince Okonkwo further revealed that the companies plan to establish an aircraft maintenance and manufacturing facilities in Ekiti International Cargo Airport, leverage the agro-processing zone for agricultural development and create a logistics hub due to Ekiti’s strategic location between Lagos and Abuja.

    He stated that Ekiti State offers a conducive environment and favourable conditions for investment, positioning it as an attractive destination for global investors.

    Present at the event were the Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Dayo Apata (SAN), Commissioner for Budget, Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo, Commissioner for Education, Dr. Adebimpe Aderiye, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utility, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko. 

    Others include the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Ebenezer Aboluwade, Mr. Leo He, representative of ALAC, Mr. Liang Abraham, representative of EDRI, Mr. Zhou Rin, amongst others.

  • Fidson Partners with three Chinese Firms to tackle HIV in Africa

    Fidson Partners with three Chinese Firms to tackle HIV in Africa

    Fidson Healthcare Plc, Nigeria’s leading pharmaceutical company, has recently entered into a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum with Jiangsu Aidea Pharma, Nanjing PharmaBlock, and the China-Africa Development Fund in Beijing, China. The signing ceremony took place during a significant visit led by Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, the Founder and Managing Director of Fidson Healthcare. The Nigerian delegation also included Dr. Babatunde Ipaye and Mr. Oshoke Ayebae.

    This collaboration marks a pivotal step in enhancing Africa’s self-reliance in healthcare delivery, particularly in the fight against HIV. The four parties will leverage their unique strengths to establish a new joint venture pharmaceutical plant in Nigeria. This initiative aims to not only boost local pharmaceutical manufacturing but also ensure the availability of essential medications for the continent. As part of the agreement, the parties will share information and resources, explore investment opportunities in the West African pharmaceutical market, and implement cooperative investments at the project level. This partnership promises to strengthen healthcare systems across the region, making significant strides towards improved access to vital medications for all Africans.

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    This signing ceremony follows a series of engagements, including a visit by the Chairman of Jiangsu Aidea Pharma, Dr. Heliang Fu, to Nigeria earlier in the year. During that visit, Dr. Fu toured the Lekki Free Trade Zone, which is the chosen site for the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility set to revolutionise the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria and the wider African continent. The partnership between Fidson and the Chinese firms exemplifies international cooperation aimed at tackling pressing medical challenges. The upcoming manufacturing facility will become a hub for pharmaceutical excellence, leveraging the Lekki Free Trade Zone’s strategic location and comprehensive infrastructure to foster economic growth and healthcare improvement. In the words of Dr. Fu, “This collaboration marks an important step for Chinese pharmaceutical players in their commitment to global medical cooperation. By integrating our expertise and experience in the field of innovative drugs, we are confident in bringing greater well-being to African patients.”

    Dr. Ayebae expressed his optimism about the partnership, stating, “We eagerly look forward to this collaboration and believe that the complementary strengths of all parties will inject new vitality into the healthcare delivery sector in Africa, particularly addressing the medical needs of over 1.9 million HIV-infected individuals in Nigeria, which is a focus of Aidea Pharma.” He added that the project is coming at a timely moment, as the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in Nigeria, under the leadership of Dr. Temitope Ilori, champions the government’s drive to provide necessary support and create an enabling environment for pharmaceutical companies to initiate local production of Anti-Retroviral drugs (ARVs).