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ASABA — Delta State’s campaign to position itself as a preferred investment destination gained significant momentum on Wednesday as investors from Brazil, Malaysia and the United States expressed strong interest in committing capital to the state’s agriculture, energy and industrial sectors after inspecting major investment sites across the state.

The investors, who were participants at the ongoing Delta State Economic and Investment Summit, toured the Kwale Special Economic Zone (KSEZ), where they inspected the Kwale Gas Gathering Hub and facilities operated by Phoenix Company. The delegation also visited Skyward Resources Group in Oleh and Uzezi Farms in Oyede.

The visits culminated in glowing endorsements of Delta’s investment climate, with members of the delegation indicating readiness to pursue strategic partnerships across key sectors of the state’s economy.

Leader of the Brazilian agribusiness delegation, Roberto Fonseca, described the Kwale Special Economic Zone as a visionary project with enormous potential to attract global investment and accelerate Nigeria’s industrialisation.

Fonseca disclosed that the Brazilian delegation had monitored the development of the economic zone for some time before deciding to visit, adding that the project demonstrated the Delta State Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for investors.

He revealed that the Brazilian group was already considering investments in gas-fired power generation and a cassava processing plant through a joint venture arrangement, stressing that Kwale’s strategic location made it an ideal investment destination.

“We have been studying the Kwale Special Economic Zone with great interest because we believe it is a very wise decision by the Delta State Government. We are planning investments in natural gas power generation and cassava processing, and I believe the Brazilian flag will soon stand alongside the Nigerian flag here in a fruitful partnership,” Fonseca said.

During the visit to Skyward Resources Group and Uzezi Farms, the Brazilian investor commended the modern agricultural infrastructure, saying the facilities demonstrated Nigeria’s capacity to strengthen food production and improve food security.

He said Brazil, one of the world’s foremost agribusiness nations, was prepared to invest in ranching, beef processing and facilitate technology transfer to boost Nigeria’s agricultural productivity.

“Food security remains one of Nigeria’s biggest challenges, and Brazil is ready to contribute by bringing technology, expertise and investment. We are committed to partnering Nigeria to build a stronger agricultural sector,” he added.

Also speaking, Malaysian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Aiyub Omar, disclosed that Malaysia was exploring investment opportunities in Delta State’s agricultural sector, particularly in oil palm development.

Omar said he attended the summit with representatives of Malaysian agribusiness firms that possess extensive experience in large-scale plantation management, including companies managing more than 12,000 hectares of oil palm plantations in Nigeria.

He noted that discussions had already begun with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on possible collaboration to expand Delta’s oil palm industry, expressing confidence that Malaysia’s expertise would support the state’s agricultural transformation agenda.

Founder of Agrinexus, Dr. Shermal Perera, said the organisation was already active in Nigeria and had commenced collaboration with partners in Delta State.

According to him, Agrinexus serves as technical partner to JB Farms, one of Nigeria’s leading oil palm companies, while also supporting DELCOM on a proposed smallholder oil palm development programme.

Perera further disclosed that the company had facilitated the visit of an American investor to Delta to explore business opportunities, noting that international interest generated by the summit was already translating into tangible investment engagements.

Leading the delegation on the inspection tour, Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, said the state deliberately combined investment discussions with visits to thriving private-sector enterprises to demonstrate that Delta was genuinely ready for business.

He said the field tour was designed to assure prospective investors that beyond presentations at the investment summit, Delta already boasts successful indigenous businesses capable of scaling up through international partnerships.

“What we are looking for is partnership, technology and expertise. We want investors to see that Delta means business. We have indigenous entrepreneurs who are here to stay and are ready to partner with investors from across the world. We want you to have confidence that your investments will be safe in Delta State,” Onyeme said.

Managing Director of Skyward Resources Group, Chief Eta Enahoro, disclosed that his agricultural enterprise had been developed with substantial Brazilian technical support.

He said the company’s greenhouse facilities, poultry operations and feed mill were established using Brazilian expertise, adding that the farm currently operates 42 greenhouse units and a poultry facility with a capacity of over 30,000 birds.

Enahoro called on international investors to partner with the company in expanding its operations, saying such collaborations would further strengthen agricultural production and food value chains in Delta State.

The investors’ expressions of interest are expected to provide a major boost to the Oborevwori administration’s efforts to attract foreign direct investment and diversify Delta State’s economy through strategic partnerships in agriculture, energy and industrial development.