4 foreign firms scrambling for Bakassi Deep Seaport ---Ayade

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Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade (M), flanked by his Deputy, Professor Ivara Esu and Secretary to the State Government, Tina Bankor Agbor during the inspection of ongoing construction work at Calabar Pharmaceutical Company shortly after the Governor arrived Calabar.

(Nigeria) Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade has said that four international companies with expertise in deep seaport are currently scrambling to invest in the Bakassi Deep Seaport being  developed by the state government.
Briefing newsmen at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar on his return from an extensive working trip to 11 countries in Europe, Asia and South America, the governor said it was imperative that he undertook the trip as he seeks to ramp up the economy of the state.                      
Ayade, who was received by his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu and members of the state executive council, explained that "In recognizing the challenges that we have as a country, and of course, with the meltdown in the global economy, it is evident that only states that globalize their economy can move forward.              
"So what I have done is to go round the world in order to source a team of investors and bring them to Cross River State.  What you are going to see in a couple of months is a  team of investors arriving the  state."                                     
Noting that Cross River offers special appeal as an investment destination,  Governor Ayade further said that as evidence of the uniqueness of the state as an investment hub, "some teams had arrived the state during my absence to do final  detailed analysis and feasibility studies to  be able to come back with vigor to invest in the state. You will soon be seeing investors pouring  in to finalize the discussions we had overseas."                                                         
The governor who said he did a lot of presentations to several groups in Switzerland, and China, disclosed that "When I finished the presentations of our potentials in the deep seaport, they obviously knew that it was an opportunity for them to invest.     
"When I did another presentation to another team in Belgium, they were fighting among themselves as to who will take over the project. In fact, they were so excited to take over," he said.
According to Ayade, "As I speak to you today, I have four major port companies that are dying  to take the project even if Cross River State has no dime."  
Ayade noted  that though  Cross River receives very little from the federation account, "yet we were one of the few state that paid salaries before Easter. This is an indication that we have the capacity and the vision to move the state beyond money by using our intellect and fear of God."                                         
On why the machinery of government had continued to run smoothly during his working tour, Ayade disclosed that he was convinced that he has a competent deputy in Prof. Esu who stood in for him. "He is a senior professor to me, so you  should understand that he has the capacity and equal drive."

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