Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade said he will propose in the 2023 state budget billed for submission soon his strong desire to purchase maritime merchant ships.
This, he said, follows the success and impact that state carrier CallyAir is having on the aviation industry.
He said this while receiving a delegation from the state chapter of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises at his office in Calabar.
Responding to his presentation, the governor highlighted that “this presentation allows us to decide on our merchant ship as proposed in our budget so that we can start exporting our noodles, frozen chicken, our rice, and in fact start exporting everything we produce. of our agro factories “.
He revealed that by exporting with merchant ships from the port of Calabar, the products of Cross River’s industries will find a ready market in at least 15 countries along the West and Central African coast.
Highlighting the need for the state to be designated as an export corridor due to its vast coastline to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA), Ayadesaid: “We must take advantage of our industries and take our products beyond Cross River, beyond of Nigeria and take advantage of the AFCTA to broaden the horizon of our market. That’s why we have the Ministry of Commerce, that’s why we have the Ministry of Foreign Relations to focus on how we can export.
“And I remain committed and dedicated to the need for Cross River State to have a very strong maritime business activity that allows us to develop our business environment where young men and women will migrate from politics to business.”
Association President James Alicha praised the governor’s industrialization campaign and assured that with 33 industries established by the Ayade administration, the state will greatly benefit from non-oil profits through AFCTA’s efforts.
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