By Kenneth Udeh – Abia State

In Nigeria, facilitating international investments into the country usually entails political leaders notably state governors embarking on foreign trips with an array of other government officials and the cost of such trips are usually offset with tax payer funds.

However, for an astute business man, former governor and a man known for his passion for human development facilitating international investment into the country was just a matter of dedication. Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu who recently travelled to the republic of China to participate in an Agricultural expo like the popular saying “killed two birds with one stone” by meeting and convincing Mr. Hu Xiao Jiang Chairman He Bei Meikeduo food group co. Ltd.

The need for the trip was inspired by Dr. Kalu’s ideals on entrepreneurship and job creation, which is in line with the federal government’s economic diversification plan for employment opportunities which lead to poverty alleviation, improved food security and GDP growth.

For proper introduction Mr. Jiang is an agro farmer based in poultry production of chicken the largest in China with supplies to Walmart, KFC and so on Mr. Jiang’s currently net worth is 7 billion dollars. It is noteworthy to state that Mr. Jiang had been to other European countries for investment purposes but had never been to Africa.

On many occasions he had been asked to come to Africa but never fully convinced not until Dr. Orji uzor Kalu convinced him to come to Nigeria and invest. The destination was Igbere, Abia State in South East Nigeria where Mr. jiang and his team were expected to arrive for exploration of its Agro potentials.

The establishment of the poultry factory will lead to the construction of a chicken processing factory from hatchery to slaughtering and packaging. The factory expected to employ an initial 1500 workforce, also to engage other dealers in other crops like maize etc.

Just as planned the Chinese Team led by Mr. Xiao Jiang arrived the Owerri Airport via Abuja and headed straight to the country home of the former governor, who coincidentally was hosting the Women Association from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture which comprised of professors, the VC’s wife and other lecturers who were on a courtesy visit to his Excellency.

The meeting seemed to be the best way to welcome the team who immediately joined his excellency in the meeting. Dr. Kalu used the opportunity to introduce Mr. Hu Xiao Jiang to the women from the University of Agriculture.

Mr. Jiang in his response through the team’s interpreter Ms. Yuan was delighted to meet with the female academicians and promised to pay a courtesy visit to the University and establish a possible cooperation with the university.

The team who couldn’t wait to explore the Agricultural potentials of the community and Abia state in general immediately set off to Ugwueke farm. The Chairman together with his team were greeted with the large expanse of the land which was estimated to be over 40 hectares covered with cassava plantation. The team did a brief tour and took samples of the cassava crops and made further inquiries.

The next day, the team proceeded to the Aba city to visit the Ultra-Modern Sun Newspaper plant and the Aluminum / Copper Ingots plant of Neya Nig. Limited. However, the team made a brief stop at a local palm kernel processor. The team took out time to inspect the local procedures used by the local oil palm manufacturer and the Chairman took some samples.

Arriving at the Aluminum plant the team was received by the manager of the plant who took time to take the team on tour of the steel manufacturing plant which specializes in manufacturing steel products of various types for different uses and for export purposes to different countries after which the team proceeded to the Sun newspaper plant on arrival they were welcomed by its plant manager who took them round the newspaper plant that produces Nigeria’s widely read daily.

At the end of the tour the next point of call was the local market which the team took time to visit not minding how crowded and discomfortable a local market can be the Chairman and his team entered the main market with the help of its interpreter Ms. Yuan interacted freely with the poultry meat sellers as well as the abattoir to know their challenges.

The team also visited some local Chicken farms of which they equally took time to interact with the farmers to know their challenges. The team made a stop at Shoprite Umuahia for some shopping. The very delighted team ended the day’s tour with lunch at one of the renowned ‘Sweet’ eatery in the city of Aba.

Inspired by the huge investment potential areas discovered by the visiting team led by Chief Dr. Orji Uzor kalu himself they set out to visit the farms at Igbere and Ugwueke an amazed Mr. Xiao Jiang expressed his excitement seeing the large expanse of the land mass waiting to be explored.

During the inspection the community youths who couldn’t hold their joy knowing the huge economic and employment opportunity gains of the proposed investment gathered in their numbers and sang their hearts out appreciating Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu for attracting such huge investment potential to the South East and making the Igbere community the host despite not being a political office holder for 12 years.

The Chinese delegation visited the palace of the King of the Ugwueke community who entertained them to a mouthwatering traditional delicacies. Mr. Jiang in his response thanked the King for hosting him and his delegation. The hosting put the delegation in high spirits for a major visit to the Palace of Eze Ibinaukwu and their traditional rulers where the Chairman of the group was expected to be bestowed with a chieftaincy title.

The entire visiting team led by Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu arrived the palace of the Traditional ruler of the Igbeere kingdom the atmosphere of the palace was charged with pomp and pageantry as the entire people converged at the palace to rejoice and behold their son Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and the visiting investors.

They were welcomed with a group of traditional dancers after which they were ushered into the palace. As tradition demands Kolanuts were brought and prayers were said which officially kick start the event. One of the high points of the event was when the Chairman and his beautiful wife were led out of the palace wearing their English wears and returned to the palace completely transformed adoring the Igbo attire in which they looked so beautiful .

The Chairman and his wife were called forward before the king, they were decorated and given the titles of “Enyi Oha 1 “of Igbere “and his wife “Ada Ebiri”. In his response the Chairman thanked the king and his people for giving him and his wife such an honour he expressed optimism to start up the Chicken factory in the town and the people couldn’t hold their joy.

The event ended with a scintillating dance steps dished out by the traditional dancers to the amazement and delight of the Chinese Visitors.

The need to have a research center for the proposed chicken processing factory motivated the team to make a trip to the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture. The intention was to establish a contact relationship with the renowned Agricultural University in the area of poultry production as well as vegetable processing.

The visiting team and some officers of the University led by its Vice Chancellor Prof. Francis Otunta held a brief meeting during which the poultry billionaire disclosed that he would link up the University with the Agricultural University in China so they can come over and gain more experience in research.

In his response the Vice Chancellor of the University thanked Mr Jiang for resolving to partner with the University , the VC also said that a strong committee would be set up which would comprise of renowned researchers in the university to work with the Mr. jiang for extensive collaboration.

Following a successful academic meeting , the visiting team proceeded to Enugu state the next day, the destination was no other than the MICON AGRO Farm Limited this time they were led by the former Governor himself Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu .

The team immediately began inspection of the birds and facilities on the farm they were guided by the farm’s veterinary Doctor Dr. Nnamdi. After the inspection the managing Director of the expansive poultry farm received Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and the Chinese Team in his private residence.

In his speech the MD thanked Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu for facilitating such an international investment noting that when completed the farm would revolutionize the poultry as well as Agricultural sector in the South East and Nigeria at large the MD further stated that the establishment of the Chinese Poultry most especially the hatchery poultry segment of the farm in Abia State will also add to the only two hatcheries in the entire South east which were barely insufficient.

Fully equipped with relevant information and gaining sufficient knowledge of the investment opportunities abound in the Southeast having been also treated with the very best of Nigerian hospitality by the good people of Igbere, Abia North of Abia State the very pleased Chinese Team had concluded plans to start up the poultry factory and departed for Lagos.

The visiting Chinese Team later proceeded to CHI farms Ibadan OYO state for further inspection tours after which they headed back to Lagos were the the already excited and eager Chinese team sealed the partnership deal with its Chairman Mr. Xaio Jiang and his excellency Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.

This thus has set the pace for the Agricultural Alied business revolution to the Southeast .

The Chinese Team set out for final departure to their home country with the zeal to return for onward startup of the Agro business in Nigeria.

Source: https://abacityblog.com/2017/11/south-east-to-experience-agro-cultural-revolution-as-kalu-woos-chinese-investors-to-abia-state.html

More photos: https://abacityblog.com/2017/11/south-east-to-experience-agro-cultural-revolution-as-kalu-woos-chinese-investors-to-abia-state.html

419 move

Another scam from OUK

I kuku gbadun chinko pipul. Dem go use una bend, go dump u for hospital
Well, dem talk say igbos are d strongest, so chinko go see dem use wel well

This is good for the economy of the East . I hope their will be reverse migration due to very cheap chick

yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!

Wake me up when they start exporting frozen chicken.