The people of Oyo State have been assured of the state becoming a hub of international investments and trades in the shortest possible time.
Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) and International Trade, Neo Theodore Tlhaselo gave the assurance in Ibadan, the Oyo State’s capital.
Tlhaselo who was recently appointed by Governor Seyi Makinde said she would deploy her rich experience in international trade and business development towards realising the AfCFTA in Oyo State.
According to her, the vision aligned with the realisation of Governor Makinde’s Omituntun 2.0 Sustainable Development Agenda for the state, stressing that the state will be able to develop a sub-national AfCFTA Implementation strategy to create a competitive edge in the Africa’s single market agenda.
Tlhaselo said she would equally help the state to develop supporting instruments and strategic frameworks towards the vision for sustainable economy for the state.
She further added that her wealth of experience would be brought to bear in delivering Governor Makinde’s agenda to develop Oyo State sustainably.
“I appreciate the Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, for the opportunity given to me to work with him in delivering sustainable development in Oyo State.
“As an international trade, business development and communications expert of over 15 years’ experience, rendering expertise across government agencies, diplomatic institutions, private sector, amongst others, in Africa and globally, this opportunity will help us to bring about the realisation of the implementation of the AfCFTA within Oyo State in alignment with the realisation of the Omituntun 2.0 Agenda of the governor.
“This we will achieve through developing a sub-national AfCFTA Implementation Strategy in which we will bring forward a competitive edge for Oyo State in the face of Africa’s single market agenda, developing supporting instruments and strategic frameworks towards the achievement of that objective.
“Through this office, we will explore more global relations to attract investment and create an enabling environment for the realisation of international trade, cultivate and cement relations with diverse and targeted strategic partners in the region and internationally for the broader achievement of creating a sustainable economy for the Pacesetter State,” she said.
The governor’s special adviser expressed the belief that a multilateral approach through economic diplomacy will be an imperative tactic for achieving the vision for the state, adding that “economic diplomacy has been one of my areas of practice and expertise as evident by the latest National Economic Diplomacy Campaign and Foreign Policy Forum in which I was one of the primary contributors to its conceptualisation and implementation, as I spearheaded its rollout in Botswana.”
She stressed that strategic conversation for Africa’s endorsement as a think-tank organisation at the AfCFTA Secretariat-African Union would be explored in view of her recognition as an expert facilitator and technical expert at the AfCFTA Secretariat-African Union consultative forums.
These, she assured, will be facilitated to Oyo State’s advantage by deploying her wealth of expertise, regional and global network for the benefit of the state.
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