On the morning of Nov. 14, 2023, the CAI delegation visited Abuja Agriculture High-tech Industrial Park, an agricultural demonstration center project invested by CGCOC Agriculture Development Co.,LTD.
CGCOC Agriculture Development Co.,LTD is the holding company of CGCOC Group which is affiliated with SINOPEC Star Co.,LTD, a Chinese state-owned enterprise. Focusing on African markets, CGCOC Agriculture has set up subsidiaries in African countries such as Senegal, Burkina Faso and the Republic of Guinea. It provides a wide range of services including seeds and seedling R&D and production, trade of agricultural materials, machinery and products, agro-processing, agricultural engineering, construction and management of agriculture Industrial parks, as well as conducting agricultural aid projects and technical training.
Located at the northeast of the capital city Abuja, the Agriculture High-tech Industrial Park covers an area of about 80 hectares. The project area enjoys efficient transportation and sufficient agricultural water supply as it is only 11 kilometers away from the highway connecting the north of Abuja, and is adjacent to the biggest reservoir in Abuja.
Vegetables planted at Abuja Agriculture High-tech Industrial Park
Local farmers are harvesting rice at Abuja Agriculture High-tech Industrial Park
The delegation visited workshops for processing rice, cooking oil and cassava chips, and communicated with local farmers at the industrial park.
Professor Wang Yongzhong is talking with a local farmer
The delegation also had a meeting with Wang Jun, general manager of Green Agriculture West Africa Ltd. (GAWAL), a firm that operates the industrial park, and Che Yuan, general manager assistant of CGCOC NIGERIA LTD. Mr. Wang and Mr. Che made detailed introduction of the rich agricultural resources in Nigeria, the “Company + Farmer” model, the market development centered on seed, the social responsibilities of the company and challenges for sustainable development of the industrial park.
They said that Chinese companies should set up long-term strategic goals, and keep learning from the experience of operating businesses overseas in order to settle down in Nigeria and other African countries and to achieve sustainable development for mutual benefits. The two sides also had an in-depth communication on the advantages and weaknesses of China-Nigeria cooperation, and the challenges in helping African countries realize agricultural modernization.
CAI delegation is having a meeting with Wang Jun, Che Yuan
CAI delegation and Wang Jun (third left), Che Yuan(third right)
On the afternoon of Nov. 14, 2023, the CAI delegation had a meeting with Charles Okechukwu Onunaiju, the director of the Centre for China Studies of Nigeria, Professor Yusufu Ali Zoaka, dean of department of Political Sciences, University of Abuja, as well as the African scholar Greg Odogwu and Chinaza Okoria. The scholars covered topics such as the significance of China-Africa relations in safeguarding global peace and development, the comparison of government capability building in China and Nigeria, China-Africa cooperation in green industries and digital economy, and how Chinese modernization inspires Africa in seeking of its own development path.
Chinese and African scholars
African scholars: Charles Okechukwu Onunaiju, Greg Odogwu, Yusufu Ali Zoaka (From left to right)