NIGERIA CALLS FOR COOPERATION IN FOOD PRODUCTION WITH QATAR.

The Ambassador Extra-Ordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the State of Qatar, His Excellency, Yakubu Ahmed, on Monday 6 September 2021 paid a courtesy visit to the Headquarters of Hassad Food, one of the biggest players in the food industry in Doha, Qatar.

The Nigerian Principal Envoy was received on arrival by the Vice President of the Group, Ali Hilal Al Kuwari.

The Ambassador used the occasion to discuss ways of collaboration between the Company and agro-based agencies in Nigeria, especially in the areas of supply and processing of food products. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Spokesperson Embassy of Nigeria, Doha, Qatar informed.

The Ambassador reiterated the fact that Nigeria is rich in agriculture and is ready for investments in the food chain to ensure maximum utilization of its potentials.

In the course of their discussion, the Ambassador invited Hassad Food Company to take advantage of investment opportunities across the various agricultural value chains in Nigeria.

Specifically, His Excellency encouraged the company to participate in mechanized crop production (such as rice, maize, millet, cassava, sugar cane, tomato and the cash crops such as cocoa, palm kernel, rubber, among others), fruit juice/canned fruits processing, food processing and preservation.

Other areas include farming and processing of livestock, dairy & aquaculture, supply of agricultural input and machinery as well as international commodity trading and transportation. Additionally, the Ambassador highlighted that there is a local demand for improved seeds, agrochemicals, veterinary drugs, vaccines, feeds and feeds ingredients.

His Excellency further disclosed that the Nigerian government has deliberately designed investment incentives such as tax holidays, exemptions, and reliefs to support private sector participation in the sector.

This, he added, has boosted the performance of the sector in recent times as exemplified by foreign trade where agricultural goods in Q1 2021 contributed N757.4 billion representing 7.76% of the total export. Major traded agricultural products within the period included sesamum seeds, cocoa beans, cashew nuts, coconuts, ginger, palm nuts and kernels and shea cake.

Delighted to hear these opportunities available in Nigeria, The Vice President of Hassad Food Company asserted that, certainly the company has now developed an appetite to enter into the Nigerian market for mutually beneficial partnerships. As a new frontier, the Vice President said they will start with the trade of Nigerian agricultural commodities to test the viability of such partnership following which concrete investment may develop. He advised that the two countries can use lamb as a launchpad commodity from which to expand into products.