Makinde’s UK Summit ‘ll Expand Oyo Economy, Says BTG Africa, Set To Organize 10th Trade Fair, Agro Exhibitions In Ibadan

BTG Africa has commended the executive governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde over the just concluded Oyo International Business Summit in London, United Kingdom saying the move was a product of a deep economic foresight, and a positive step in a right direction.

The organization according to a co-founder, Mr Delight Awoyemi, is a Technology Driven Innovative Company promoting digital economies across Africa and a transnational agribusiness promoter.

This was as the organization said the summit has not only put the state on global map in terms of economic potentials and available mineral resources for exploration but also portends great opportunities that would revolution agribusiness development in Oyo state 

Awoyemi, who is also an Executive Director of the organization, in a press statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Monday said his organization was ready to help Makinde’s government achieve its desired results through its forthcoming Mega Trade Fair, Exhibitions and Conferences scheduled to hold in the state by December.

He said, more than 90% of tangible consumables in life is derived from either mineral and or agro raw materials which he said are in abundance in Oyo state while soliciting deepened collaboration with the Makinde led administration.

Awoyemi stated that the Makinde led government has implemented a number of initiatives in the last four years geared towards diversifying the economy and reducing its dependence on oil and money from Abuja, some of which he said included investments in agriculture, security, health, and services, as well as provision of infrastructure which has culminated in a business-friendly environment for big investments.

It would be recalled that the unveiling of the immediate past edition of the agribusiness trade fair which held in Ibadan last year also had the state governor, Seyi Makinde represented by his executive assistant, Idowu Ogedengbe in attendance.

While commending organizers of the agribusiness exhibition, Makinde was quoted at the event as saying “the state government considered the fair as a link to economic development plan” and that “the state has several mineral resources in all its council areas waiting to be tapped.

“Our target to focus on critical sector that will boost the Gross Domestic Product of the state. We have massive arable land so we are repositioning our agricultural development plan to attract critical stakeholders in the sector.

“The trade fair is considered important because it will serve as a link to some economic development plans. A number of stakeholders are already showing interests in partnering with us in the area of agricultural development.”

Speaking on the forthcoming Trade Fair and how the state can fully take advantage of it to drive its agribusiness agenda, Delight said, Mega Agriculture, Food Processing and Allied Industries Expo, as well as Mega Mining, Mineral and Machinery Expo will pull agribusiness and solid minerals exhibitors from different parts of Africa to see opportunities and prospects in Oyo state agricultural and solid mineral sectors.

“What we have done in our previous editions is to create a platform to showcase our strength in terms of agriculture, mineral resources and agricultural produce that can earn the state high revenue while creating employment opportunities for unemployed youths through expanded agribusiness value chain.”

He said the goal of this Year’s Business Event is to strategically create a veritable Platform for businesses, public and private stakeholders, investors, and shrewd decision makers in 30 Industrial Sectors to network, explore, strategize, connect, discover opportunities, collaborate, hold business-to-business meetings and investment conferences for increased market share using latest innovations and technology matrix.

According to Awoyemi, the 2023 Fair proposed to host an average of 600 exhibitors, 500,000 shoppers, five countries, 30 Ministries, Departmmts and Agencies (Madam) would provide the biggest trade platform for international and domestic exhibitors to interact with key stakeholders while promoting their product lines, access new markets, build new business relationships, showcase new products, grasp developing trends, learn and deploy latest innovations and technologies.

“We believe that this platform will promote customized activation and product integration fora for any brand in the State more especially; as flexible and structured payments are allowed for businesses in Oyo State ahead of the trade fair. In time past, more than 85% exhibitors from outside Ibadan are always in attendance, but this time around, we are targeting 400 MSMEs in Oyo State to showcase their products and services to the rest of the world.

“Federal and State MDAs, Research Institutes, Associations, Groups, and players in the Tech spaces will be on ground to support businesses of government and those of the private sector. With the theme ‘Digitalized Economy: A Smarter Marketplace.” Awoyemi noted.

He said, “With what the governor and his team has gone to do at the international business summit in London which has dominated the social media in the last couple of days, we have no doubt that any serious stakeholder will be strategically positioned to fully key into the governor’s agribusiness agenda.

“This is why BTG Africa is seeking a more robust collaboration and partnership with the Seyi Makinde led government especially in the area of helping them sell Oyo state to corporate and government investors in the agricultural and mineral sectors.

“We have no atom of doubt that the London business summit would surely revolutionize the agribusiness development in Oyo state and help farmers earn some good money if critical stakeholders like ours are brought on board by way of collaboration and partnership.”