The Ondo State Government led by the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN has today 27th of November 2020 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with two Malaysian Companies on the establishment of Ondo State Integrated Rice Development Project in Ogbe, Ondo State
The two Companies from Malaysia are MardiCorp and La RUTA ; MardiCorp is a statutory body which has been mandated to conduct research in agriculture, food and agro-based industries and they are expected to provide the technical support needed for the execution of the project while LA RUTA will be financially supporting the execution of the Project.
The Ondo State Government was able to reach this agreement through the office of the Ondo State Development Investment and Promotional Agency which is headed by Mr Boye Oyewumi.
Due to the travel restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the MoU signing was conducted virtually between MardiCorp at its office in Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), La Ruta Malaysia and the Ondo state government at the Governor’s Office in Akure, Nigeria
Speaking at the event, the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN revealed that among his agenda for the state is food security, and also to seek investment partners to increase the agricultural output of the state.
According to the Governor,” We embarked on a journey of faith to Malaysia and that’s on the April of 2018. We hoped then that we could open a corridor of Trade between Malaysia and Ondo State, Nigeria.”
” We were convinced that when it comes to the issue of food, of Agriculture, and when it also comes to the issue of Agri-businesses, striking a relationship with Malaysia was as important as any other thing and this is because we have been together for long”
According to the Governor, he explained that this latest Partnership is not just for the good of the state but to also consolidate on the good relationship between the Malaysian Government and the Nigerian Government.
Arakunrin Akeredolu while congratulating the Malaysian Government for what they have been able to achieve when it comes to food security and Agricultural development in the world, he also added that the partnership with them will rub off well on Ondo State especially in the area of food security.
The Governor revealed that during the last visit if the state delegate which was led by him to Malaysia, the state sought investors with the Technical know- how and financial capacities to increase the state Agricultural output, commercialize the state Agriculture and Agri-Businesses and this been yielding great rewards in the State.
He added that the State delegate also proposed a collaboration and Agri-business Value Chain development in Malaysia which includes the Promotion of MD2 Pineapple, establishment of an Agricultural showcase and training centers among other things.
Expressing his excitement, he stated that the state is ready to make the deal happen even though previous administration failed in this regards.
He also added that his recent electoral victory in the state is a plus as it would see to it that the state has the time luxury to pursue this project.
The delegate from Malaysia led by the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Nigeria , Mrs Gloria Corina thanked the Ondo State Government for the cordial relationship between both parties while also expressing their readiness to seeing to the success of the partnership with the State.