by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Plateau State Government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with Bulgarian companies not only in the area of agriculture but in technical education, information and communication technology, infrastructural development and scholarship for staff of the Plateau State University, Bokkos.
The State Governor, Barr Caleb Mutfwang, disclosed this, while welcoming Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Yankovic V. Yordanov, saying, “The gesture will boost the dwindling economic situation of the state and upgrade the Plateau State University to a reputable citadel of learning.”
Governor Mutfwang added that, the State Government and the Republic of Bulgaria has agreed to go into partnership in the areas of Agriculture, Information and Communications Technology, Education and Infrastructural Development.
The agreement was reached when the Bulgarian Ambassador paid a courtesy visit on the Governor on Tuesday in Abuja.
The governor explained further that, the State is endowed with a favorable weather condition to grow different agricultural products, and appreciated the Bulgarian Government for showing interest to partner with the State Government in areas of mutual benefit.
While welcoming the kind of partnership, the governor stretched further that, “I want us to see how we can grow not only for food security but also for export, so that we can help in bringing tangible income.
“We will be glad, if you introduce us to your companies, and we will be glad to get their profiles so that we will get our experts to engage in detailed discussions as to the kind of partnership structure we want.
“We want to open up the space, as much as possible, to direct foreign investment and we will be glad to have Bulgarian companies that will come on board to do business in Plateau State, and I am sure it will be a win-win situation,” he stated.
According to him, “We will want to have this beyond agriculture; we can look at infrastructure, and we can look at points of collaboration that will be value addition for us on the Plateau. I want us to also look at the educational sector, we will be glad to know those areas that we can partner.
“We have Plateau State University Bakkos; we will be glad to have the opportunity for collaboration with foreign investors, particularly on technical education and information communication technology and, we want to know, if we can send some of our lecturers to Bulgaria for further studies to enable them add to our manpower,” Mutfwang stressed.
Speaking earlier, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to Nigeria, Yankovic V. Yordanov, said, the visit was to cultivate a conducive atmosphere for Bulgaria to partner with Plateau State in the area of agriculture.
He noted that Jos has the second highest concentration of Bulgarians apart from Lagos, and said they have industries and companies that will turn around Plateau economy for the progress and prosperity of citizens.
Amb. Yordanov added that, there are greater areas Plateau will collaborate with the Bulgarian companies to improve the economy of the state and said a team from his country will be in Nigeria in October, 2023, and will be glad to meet with Plateau Chamber of Commerce to improve small-scale businesses in the state.
