Prospective investors from Türkiye and other parts of Europe have expressed interest in Taraba state’s coffee, tea and chocolate value chains, with discussions underway for possible partnerships and access to the Turkish market.

The development followed a high-level Made in Taraba investors’ tour meeting held at the Hilton Hotel in Istanbul, Türkiye, as part of the state government’s efforts to attract foreign investment and expand international markets for locally produced goods.

The delegation, led by the immediate past Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Industry and current Commissioner for Water Management and Aquatic Affairs, Peter George, engaged business executives, coffee shop operators, production and operations managers and other prospective investors.

At an investors’ breakfast meeting on Saturday, participants tasted Taraba Coffee and Highland Tea while receiving presentations on the state’s agricultural potential, production capacity, value addition and investment opportunities across the agricultural value chain.

The engagements generated considerable interest in the state’s coffee and tea sectors, with prospective Turkish partners proposing the establishment of TARABA COFFEE flagship retail outlets in Istanbul, with the possibility of expanding to other cities in Türkiye and the wider European market.

The proposed retail outlets are expected to provide a direct market for Taraba Coffee while also creating opportunities for the distribution and promotion of Taraba Chocolate and Highland Tea.

The investors also expressed interest in purchasing at least 1,500 tonnes of Taraba agricultural products quarterly for the Turkish market, subject to further technical discussions, quality verification, supply arrangements and mutually acceptable commercial terms.
The volume, according to the prospective investors, could subsequently be increased to meet growing demand in international markets.

The delegation also held discussions with Hamza Hakkında of Unkur Akışkanlı Börek/COOFF TEA and Yasin Çaylı, Production and Operations Director of NOUVELIFE Company, among other business stakeholders.

The engagements are part of Governor Agbu Kefas’ administration’s broader strategy to take Taraba’s productive sectors beyond domestic markets, attract capital and technology, create employment and establish sustainable international markets for the state’s agricultural products.

The state government said the emerging interest in its coffee, Highland Tea and other agricultural commodities presented an opportunity to move beyond the export of raw commodities towards value addition, processing, packaging, branding, distribution and international retail.

Speaking on the development, the Special Adviser to the governor on Digital Economy, Justin Aondoaseer Tyopuusu, said the Istanbul engagements demonstrated the potential of Taraba products to compete in international markets when properly positioned and connected to global value chains.

Tyopuusu said the objective was not merely to showcase Taraba products but to develop commercially viable partnerships capable of transforming the state’s agricultural resources into sustainable businesses, employment opportunities and increased income for farmers and other participants in the value chain.

He said the proposed TARABA COFFEE presence in Istanbul represented the type of market-driven partnership the state was seeking as it continued efforts to open Taraba to international investors.

“We are not travelling merely to tell the world what Taraba has; we are taking Taraba’s products to the world and connecting them directly with the people, businesses and markets that can create value from them,” he said.

According to him, the interest received in Istanbul was an indication that Taraba’s agricultural potential could be transformed into an international commercial opportunity.

He, however, stressed that the proposed partnerships would require further technical and commercial discussions to establish sustainable supply arrangements, quality standards, processing requirements, logistics, pricing and other conditions necessary for long-term success.

The Special Adviser said the state would continue to leverage technology, international partnerships, product branding and market intelligence to support the administration’s Moving Forward Agenda and its ambition to position Taraba as a major investment hub in the North-East and Nigeria.

He added that the Turkish and European investors were expected to visit Taraba for further discussions with Governor Kefas and assess the state’s production capacity and investment opportunities.

The state government said it remained committed to creating an enabling environment for responsible investment, strengthening local production, supporting farmers and processors, and connecting Taraba products to profitable domestic and international markets.