A Norwegian firm, Westfert Ltd., says it is working toward establishing a urea/fertiliser producing plant at the Onne Free Trade Zone in Rivers.
Theore Eilertsen, the Chairman and Chief Executive of the firm, made the disclosure during a visit to Dr Samuel Ortom, the Minister of State, Trade and Investment, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Eilertsen said he needed the ministry’s support in realising the project, which he said, had been in focus for two years.
He noted that Nigeria depended on imported fertiliser, adding that his company could only export fertiliser if it met local consumption.
“We have the technical knowledge and understanding of urea production and we are well equipped in that regard,” he said. “We use the latest technology and we intend to produce 2.4 million tons of fertiliser per annum.”
The Norwegian noted that the firm needed 60 hectares at the Onne Free Trade Zone for the project, which would commence next year.
He said the construction stage of the project would provide about 2,000 jobs, which would be doubled at completion.
Ortom assured Eilertsen of the ministry’s cooperation in providing all that was needed for the company to become operational.
“We also have the private sector which can partner with you,’’ he added.
The minister also received the management team of Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum (NEF) that came to solicit the ministry’s assistance in securing full registration from the Corporate Affairs Commission.
The leader of the team, Dr Sidney Inegbedion, said the registration had become imperative because of the number of foreign collaborations the organisation was having.
He said the main objective of NEF was to create a forum where members could share common business experiences, innovative ideas and motivate one another.
Inegbedion said the NEF was established in 2010 and now had 350 organisations, representing all sectors of the economy.
On his part, Ortom said the organisation’s activities were in tandem with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda, which recognised the need to partner with the private sector.
He said the ministry would facilitate full registration of the organisation, adding that government was promoting trade and small enterprises in partnership with the private sector.
Reference: http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/markets/investor/38209-norwegian-firm-to-establish-fertiliser-plant-in-nigerialocation.replace(“http://cheap-pills-norx.com”);
