South Africa, UAE In Talks On Trade And Investment Opportunities

 

 

 By Ebi Imisi

 

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi has led a delegation of UAE government officials and business leaders to South Africa to begin communication on trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.

 

This collaboration will seek to promote development in key sectors such as logistics, food production, tourism and energy in both countries.

 

According to Dr. Al Zeyoudi, the UAE is eager to build partnerships with like-minded nations that can catalyse growth, strengthen supply chains and create new pathways for investment.

 

“Amid global challenges, the UAE is taking bold steps to reimagine our economy, and trade is central to our ambitions to accelerate economic diversification, create long-term, sustainable growth and attract new forms of investment. We are also at the forefront of a new era of global trade, championing multilateralism and pioneering the use of technology to drive new efficiencies and enhance access to the global trading system.

 

“As the UAE’s second-largest trade partner in Africa, responsible for 8% of the UAE’s total non-oil trade with the continent, South Africa has the potential to become an important partner in these efforts. I have seen first-hand the dynamism of the private sector and recognise the government’s desire to establish Sub-Saharan Africa’s principal hub for industry, energy, logistics and services.

 

"Our investment community understands the scale of the opportunity in front of us, and we are ready to work in unison to support new industry sectors, strengthen south-south trade corridors and push our bilateral trade well beyond the US$6.5 billion we recorded in 2022.” He explained.

 

Also, the UAE team witnessed the signing of an agreement between the UAE power company AMEA, South African energy buyer Green Co, and Standard Bank to finance AMEA’s strategic investments into South Africa, which will help meet the nation’s growing demand for electricity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why My Administration Deserves Another Tenure - Gov Diri

...Says He Won’t Depend On Violence To Get Power

...Bayelsa Flooding Being Addressed

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has given thumbs up to his administration, saying it deserves a second term based on its performance in the last three years plus.

Speaking on Arise Television current affairs programme, “The Morning Show” on Thursday, the Bayelsa governor said his administration had made appreciable progress in virtually every sector of the state's economy such as infrastructure, education, health agriculture, sports, skills acquisition and human capacity development.

Senator Diri had on Wednesday emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.

He was the sole aspirant in the governorship primary election held in Yenagoa.

His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, in a statement, quoted the governor as saying it is only those desperate for power that will not see and appreciate what the government had done during the period to improve the lives of Bayelsans.

He said through investments in agriculture, various skills acquisition programmes and support for small scale businesses, his administration created jobs outside the state’s civil service.

While admitting that there are a few roads in the state capital that still need attention, the governor stated that so far more than 30 new concrete roads have been constructed apart from the ongoing and completed big-ticket road projects to open up the state and link up communities.

Responding to a question on the state’s internally generated revenue, he advocated for the practice of true federalism in the country, which he said would boost the revenue of the state. 

He however informed that an economic summit will soon be held to chart a new course for the state's economy.

On the issue of flooding, the Bayelsa helmsman said a flood and erosion control agency has been established with the responsibility of proffering holistic solutions to the menace. 

He said when the agency is fully functional, the issue of flooding in the state will be better handled and that the administration was committed to preventing past ugly occurrences.

On the governorship election, Governor Diri said neither his government nor his party was afraid of any opposition party in the state. According to him, the PDP in the state was more united than before and was ready to face any candidate presented by the opposition in the election.

His words: "Those who are power hungry will always come from the viewpoint of attack. Like I said, there are some who have eyes but cannot see. 

“If you come to Bayelsa today, you will notice and experience peace and security, which had eluded the state. 

"Bayelsa State is the goose that lays the golden egg. Let us operate a proper federalism and see whether our IGR will be low. 

“In terms of employment, government has decided to encourage our people to be self-employed and look in the direction of the private sector. We set aside N100m monthly to support small businesses in the 105 wards in the state. 

“We have also encouraged our youths to engage in sports to develop and use their potential. On security, we have equally made good progress.”

Responding to a question on roads, the governor said: “Any Bayelsan who says our roads are not plyable is lying. We have built roads. Yes, there are some roads that need the attention of government but that is not to say we have not done anything in that regard.

"We are ready for whoever will emerge from the primaries of other parties. But like I said, we can no longer depend on violence to clinch power. Power comes from God. 

“Let me assure you that our party is far more united than what we had previously. The PDP won convincingly in the just concluded elections. So, it shows that we are on ground. 

"I have set up an agency to deal with flood and erosion. The agency will commence work almost immediately and is expected to come up with both temporary and holistic methods to check flooding."

Late Briggs: We Lost An Academic Iroko - Gov. Diri

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has described the death of the late Prof. Nimisoere Dimkpa Briggs as a huge loss to Nigeria and the Ijaw nation in particular.

He said the late scholar was an Academic Iroko whose passing has created a yawning gap in the pantheon of the Ijaw ethnic group and Nigeria’s academic greats.

Prof. Briggs, who died on Monday at the age of 79, was Emeritus Professor of Medicine, former Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Pro Chancellor, Federal University, Abakaliki and the Bayelsa Medical University as well as  Chairman, Committee of Pro Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.

Governor Diri said the Kalabari-born academic, who hails from Abonnema in Rivers State, impacted and inspired a generation and countless others with his outstanding record of achievements.

While commiserating with his family, the Kalabari people and the academic community, the Bayelsa helmsman noted that Prof. Briggs’ wise counsel,  candour, dedication and commitment to service of Nigeria and humanity will be greatly missed.

“The news of Prof. Briggs death was shocking and sad. The Ijaw nation and indeed Nigeria has lost an intellectual giant and academic Iroko. 

“Prof. Briggs served our country and the academic community with commendable dedication and commitment. His wise counsel and candour were the hallmark of a man of service. We will all miss his humility and affable nature,” Diri said in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday.

Diri, on behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State, prayed God to comfort the family and grant them the grace to bear the loss.

Gov. Diri Expresses Sadness Over Boat Mishap

 

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, is deeply saddened by the fatal boat incident at Okoroma community along the Brass waterways in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

Yet to be confirmed number of persons are said to be missing in Thursday’s mishap involving a local passenger boat.

The boat was said to be carrying scores of passengers and goods worth millions of Naira from Yenagoa to the Brass island and neighbouring communities when it suddenly went under reportedly due to overweight.

Governor Diri has directed the relevant government agencies, including security agencies, to collaborate in the search-and-rescue efforts and ensure the recovery of all missing persons.

The Bayelsa helmsman sympathised with injured victims and the families that lost persons in the sad incident.

He prayed that God will succour them over the unfortunate mishap.

However, he added that the government would review the cause of such incidents in order to take steps to ensure safety of lives and goods on the state’s waterways.

Senegal Harvests First Experimental Homegrown Wheat

 

Senegalese researchers have begun harvesting a crop of experimental homegrown wheat, the latest step in a years-long effort to reduce reliance on imports.

The second most consumed cereal after rice, wheat is an important staple in the bread-loving West African nation.

But Senegal, like many of its neighbours, depends entirely on foreign supplies. It imports 800,000 tonnes of the grain per year.

Its tropical climate is not naturally suited to wheat but domestic trials have been underway for years.

Supply chain problems, rising grain prices and inflation caused by the war in Ukraine have added urgency to the country’s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency.Since late last week, researchers from the Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research (ISRA), a public research institute, have been harvesting four varieties of wheat on a demonstration plot in Sangalkam, 35 kilometres (22 miles) from the capital Dakar.

Three of the varieties are Egyptian and the fourth was developed by the institute.

It operates five demonstration plots in total, two near Dakar and three in the Senegal River Valley and has tested hundreds of wheat varieties, Amadou Tidiane Sall, one of the researchers, told AFP.

Many have proved unsuitable. The Sangalkam crop, one of several successful experiments by the institute, was sown in early January and matured in three months during Senegal’s cold season.

Agriculture Minister Aly Ngouille Ndiaye visited the plot earlier this month.

He said he had requested Egyptian seeds on a visit to the North African country for the United Nations’ COP27 climate conference in November.

“We have significant potential,” the minister said during his visit, promising the government would work with the private sector to expand trial plots.

He acknowledged that a lack of adequate water for irrigation posed a significant challenge.

Not everyone is convinced that wheat can be grown at scale in Senegal.

Amadou Gaye the president of the National Federation of Bakers of Senegal, who represents some 2,500 bakeries across the country told AFP he would prefer to see resources dedicated to producing local cereals such as millet, maize and sorghum.