Edo woos Saudi investors for 2027 agric, livestock summit

File photo: Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo.

The Edo State Government has begun courting Saudi Arabian investors for its agricultural and livestock sectors, with plans for direct talks with investment companies in Riyadh ahead of a major investment summit scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

The move followed a meeting between the Edo State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Ohimai Ehijimetor, and officials of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Abuja on October 21, 2026.

The meeting, which brought together the Deputy Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Abdulrahman Altwaim, and the embassy’s Head of Economic Cooperation, Yazid Halawani, focused on attracting foreign investment and building partnerships to expand agricultural production, livestock development and agro-industrial activities in the state.

In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Friday, Ehijimetor said the embassy had pledged to support Edo’s investment drive by helping to mobilise investors for the forthcoming Edo International Agricultural and Livestock Investment Summit and arranging meetings with potential investors in Saudi Arabia.

“Apart from assisting us in mobilising investors to participate in the forthcoming summit, the Saudi Arabia Embassy is also going to organise meetings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for us to have one-on-one discussions with investment companies,” the commissioner said.

He described the engagement as successful and expressed optimism that it would open up new investment opportunities in the state’s agricultural and livestock industries.

The planned Riyadh meetings are expected to give Edo officials the opportunity to present investment prospects directly to Saudi companies and explore areas of cooperation. However, details of prospective projects and the value of possible investments have yet to be announced.

The state government is seeking to use the 2027 summit to attract investors capable of financing production, processing and other activities across the agricultural value chain. The diplomatic engagement with Saudi Arabia is part of efforts to build international partnerships ahead of the event, he added.

• Edo demolishes buildings linked to suspected ritualist, cultist
• Sanwo-Olu targets 40% food sufficiency for Lagos
• Nursing council warns 56 Wellspring varsity inductees against misconduct

Members of the Edo delegation included the Special Adviser on Livestock Development to the Edo State Governor, Roland Igbadumhe, and the Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture and Food Security, Emmanuel Sule.

Sule is coordinating the state government’s engagements with diplomatic missions as preparations for the summit gather momentum.

For Edo, the investment drive presents an opportunity to expand agricultural production beyond primary farming into processing, livestock development and related industries, where investment could help improve productivity, create jobs and increase the value of locally produced commodities.

Livestock development, in particular, requires investment in areas such as animal breeding, feed production, veterinary services, meat processing, storage and distribution. Partnerships with experienced investors could help develop these segments, provided they are backed by viable projects, adequate infrastructure and clear commercial arrangements.

Saudi Arabia’s interest in international agricultural partnerships also offers a potential avenue for cooperation, particularly in food production and supply chains. However, the outcome of the proposed engagement will depend on the specific opportunities presented, the terms offered to investors and the capacity of projects to deliver sustainable returns.

The Edo State Government has not disclosed the companies expected to participate in the proposed Riyadh meetings or identified any investment agreement arising from the embassy engagement.

The next major test will be whether the diplomatic discussions produce concrete proposals, financing commitments and partnerships that can be translated into projects on the ground.

As preparations continue for the first-quarter 2027 summit, the state government faces the task of turning investor interest into measurable gains for farmers, livestock producers, agribusinesses and the wider Edo economy.