The Government of Denmark has expressed eagerness to expand the European nation’s business interests in Enugu State. It is enthusiastic about partnering with the state in key economic sectors and other areas of mutual benefit.
Denmark, which is a member of the European Union, stated this when its government delegation and Danish businesses led by the Consul General of the Royal Danish Embassy in Nigeria, Jette Bjerrum, met with the governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, at Government House, Enugu, on Monday.
Bjerrum, who also serves as the Head of Trade of the Danish Embassy in Nigeria, said their interest was inspired by shared values with the Enugu State Government, such as transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, as well as Governor Mbah’s speech at an event in Lagos.
She stressed that contrary to negative generalisations, Enugu State was an example of many good things happening in Nigeria.
“People Google all the bad stories, but we want them to know the good stories too; this (Enugu State) is also Nigeria, where good people build trust and work with transparency, accountability, and traceability.
“I am here to understand what is essential for Enugu. They (Denmark and Enugu State) have similarities. Transparency, accountability and transformation are crucial values for Enugu. They are also vital values in Denmark—inclusion, diversity, and equality at all levels.
“What we hear as music from the governor focuses on children and our young people. The Smart School initiative is impressive. The agriculture value chain. The waste and the waste to energy transformation. All the logistics initiatives that are going on. The governor drives the international airport, cargo space, and healthcare projects. We are impressed.
“We need to be fast because things move fast here in Enugu. We are here to figure out how we can help to improve on them more. We have Danish companies here. We have the group that is supplying the first tractors. We have a new tractor assembly centre. So, how do we get more Danish companies to come here, establish themselves, and work with Enugu citizens? That’s why we’re here,” she stated.
“We come from a country of waste to power, wind and solar energy. We know you cannot do it in a day, but we would like to learn how to support the process and then capacity building.
“The low-hanging fruits will be in agriculture because that is what we do. That will also include logistics and so forth,” she concluded.
Governor Mbah restated his government’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment, de-risking investment, and encouraging investors through offtakes. He noted that the Danish delegation’s visit was a major boost for his administration’s effort to grow the state’s economy sevenfold to $30 billion in the next six years.
“We have already signed an agreement with the Danish Company ODK Group to procure tractors from them. What is also interesting is that they are also willing to have their assembly plant here. But we feel that this is just an entry point.
“We also have over 300,000 hectares secured as landbank for agriculture. So, just as in Denmark, agriculture is also our lifeblood. Forty per cent of our economy is predicated on agriculture.
“We have an initiative we are implementing now called Farm Estate across the 260 electoral wards in Enugu. So, each ward will have a massive expanse of land that will be access-controlled.
“We also plan to create value on those products. So, we are setting up Special Agro-Processing Zones that will come up soon. This will be a one-stop shop for manufacturers where you will have everything you need for manufacturing, like water, access roads, electricity, and even houses and warehouses. You plug and play.
“In livestock, we are investing hugely and looking for partnership. We have secured about $20 million for investment in livestock. We are working on a massive ranch; we expect that ranch to take over 20,000 cows,” he added.
Mbah also highlighted opportunities in various other sectors, such as tourism, health, logistics, and aviation.
