By Obot Anozeng
The Cross River State Government, in collaboration with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), and key stakeholders across the agricultural value chain, convened an International Cocoa and Coffee Investors Roundtable Meeting in Calabar on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
The event, hosted by the State’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, aimed to unlock the full economic potential of Cross River’s cocoa and emerging coffee sub-sector. It brought together top-tier participants from government, the private sector, and development agencies both within and outside Nigeria.
The meeting was officially opened by the First Lady of Cross River State, Her Excellency Dr. (Mrs.) Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, who was represented by Dr. (Mrs.) Inyang Asibong, Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender Mainstreaming. She emphasized the administration’s commitment to revitalizing agricultural value chains as a pathway to economic growth, job creation, and rural empowerment.
Discussions at the roundtable focused on strengthening farmer training and capacity development, expanding access to finance and investment incentives, promoting value addition and export readiness, encouraging public-private partnerships, and deploying modern technology and research to boost productivity across the cocoa and coffee ecosystems.
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The RMRDC Cross River State Coordinating Office led by Mr Obot Anozeng Eteng played a vital role in organizing the event, which witnessed robust engagement and actionable policy recommendations aimed at transforming the sector.
Notable participants included representatives from the Cross River State Executive Council, RMRDC, NEPC, World Cocoa Foundation, GreenVest Capital, and various commodity associations. Also in attendance were key government officials, local government chairmen, financial institutions such as Zenith Bank, Fidelity Bank, Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry, and NIRSAL, as well as academics and development partners.
The meeting concluded with a joint declaration of commitment from stakeholders across financial institutions, government agencies, farmer groups, development partners, and commodity associations to deepen collaboration and drive inclusive and sustainable growth in Cross River’s agricultural sector.
With its rich agricultural heritage and renewed commitment from diverse stakeholders, Cross River State is poised to become a regional leader in sustainable cocoa and coffee production, attracting new investments and expanding its role in global commodity markets.
