Cross River State - Cross River, South Korea Explore Opportunities for Joint Partnership

[CrossRiverState]

The Cross River State Government of Nigeria and the Republic of South Korea are exploring opportunities for joint partnership in the interest of the two countries.

Governor Liyel Imoke disclosed this in Calabar when he received the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Jong-hyun Choi, during a courtesy call.

 

The Governor added that it has been fascinating watching the Korean economy grow with scarcely any natural resources, stating that it was amazing that despite this, South Korea has found its way among the largest economy in the world.

 

In His Excellency's words "It is a productive economy and the standard of living has improved tremendously and for a lot of us that have watched that process and growth and rapid development, we have tried to learn from some of their models".

"The  growth of Korean economy is not just in the car industry as they have taken on every industry that has become globally competitive", adding that, "I do not think it will be a bad idea if we as a people learn from their experiences".

 

Imoke observed that the Korean economy is so diverse that they lead the world in every industry like shipping and technology with no natural resources, explaining that one of its secret is its might and ability to develop themselves in a very focused manner.The Governor expressed hope that the visit would  be the beginning of a long and cordial relationship that will see Korean businesses making Cross River their destination of entry into Nigeria, adding that the visit would also afford the ambassador the opportunity of knowing another side of Nigeria because the people of Cross River are highly hospitable and peaceful.

Imoke said in order to deliver a service economy to Nigerians, the State needs a strong partnership with Korea and would like to see the State as a one-stop place where they can do business in Nigeria because their entry into the state will be simple because all transactions are handled by one office, emphasizing that every conceivable thing has been put in place to grow the economy.

The Governor noted that education is one area that the state holds in high esteem which has earned it the status of the centre of excellence and that beyond the two universities in the State, new tertiary institutions are coming on stream next year while a private educational institution which is rated as one of the best in the country is opening a new university in the State and will be partnering on the development of curriculum that will be beneficial to the State's economy.

Another area he added is the establishment of a technology institution with focus on manpower development to ensure that ninety percent of its graduates are employable, explaining that the focus is to work with industries which are already in the State or soon to come on stream.

Earlier, the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Jong-hyum Choi, who disclosed that he assumed duty in September, 2011, promised to work hard to widen the relationship between Nigeria and Korea and strengthen partnership in trade and investment.

The Ambassador described Cross Riverians as hard working and disciplined an attribute, which, he said, is the secret behind Korea's growth, adding that the State can achieve sustainable economic growth, develop a prosperous economy and enjoy life.