The Lagos State government says it will partner Guangdong Province in China on technology and blue economy toward enhancing the livability of residents of the state.

The secretary to the state government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said this on Friday, during a courtesy visit by He Rusheng, deputy director general, Foreign Affairs Office, People’s Government of Guangdong Province, China, in her office at Ikeja.

Receiving the delegate on behalf of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mrs Salu-Hundeyin said the governments of Lagos and Guangdong Province would collaborate on culture, tourism, all aimed at improving the economy, status, and livability of Lagos State.

She said the Memorandum of Understanding would soon be signed to bring significant foreign direct investment to Lagos.

Mrs Salu-Hundeyin said the governor had said that anything that would promote the welfare of the economy of Lagos State and give the people better livability must always be given priority.

According to her, this is not the first time that a province from China is collaborating with Lagos State, and the government is willing to welcome more partnerships.

“Like Mr Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu would say, Lagos State can be beautifully described as a state without borders, when it comes to international collaborations.

“We are willing to collaborate as long as we will have a mutual beneficial result and outcomes from the collaborations,” she said.

Speaking earlier,  Mr Rusheng, who is also the Vice President, Guangdong People Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said the delegate had visited in 2019 but because of COVID, they could not finalise the process of the partnership.

He said Lagos State played a pivotal role as a gateway to African markets, and had similar economic features as Guangdong, hence the need for the collaboration.

Rusheng urged the Lagos State government to continue to pay more attention to and support the development of Guangdong enterprises in the state.

He called for an enabling business environment, and the acceleration of the implementation of cooperation between the two regions in more specific projects, to achieve greater economic and social development.

 (NAN)