Taraba State Government has intensified its international investment drive with prospective investors from Türkiye and other parts of Europe expressing strong interest in the state's coffee, tea and chocolate value chains.
The development followed a high-level Made in Taraba Investors' tour meeting held at the Hilton Hotel, Istanbul, Türkiye, as part of the state's ongoing efforts to attract strategic foreign investment, expand markets for locally produced goods and position Taraba as a competitive investment destination.
The delegation, led by Hon. Peter George, immediate past Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Industry and currently Commissioner for Water Management and Aquatic Affairs, held engagements with leading business executives, coffee shop operators, production and operations executives and prospective investors.
At the investors' breakfast meeting on Saturday, participants had the opportunity to taste Taraba Coffee and Highland Tea, alongside discussions on the state's agricultural potential, production capacity, value addition, market access and opportunities across the broader agricultural value chain.
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The engagements generated significant interest in Taraba's coffee and tea sectors, with prospective Turkish partners proposing a partnership framework that could see the establishment of a "TARABA COFFEE" flagship retail outlet in Istanbul, with potential for expansion to other cities in Türkiye and the broader European market.
The proposed Istanbul retail concept is expected to provide a direct market platform for Taraba Coffee while creating opportunities for the complementary distribution and promotion of Taraba Chocolate and Highland Tea in the Turkish and wider European markets.
The prospective investors 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 the establishment of mutually acceptable commercial terms.
The investors indicated that the volume could subsequently be scaled to meet wider international demand.
The delegation also held discussions with Mr Hamza Hakkinda of Unkur Akişkanli Börek/COOFF TEA and Mr Yasin Çayli, Production and Operations Director of NOUVELIFE Company, among other business stakeholders and prospective partners.
Speaking on the development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Economy, Hon. Justin Aondoaseer Tyopuusu, said the Istanbul engagements demonstrate the growing potential of Taraba products to compete in international markets when strategically positioned, properly branded and connected to global value chains.
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According to him, the objective is not merely to showcase Taraba products, but to build commercially viable partnerships capable of transforming the state's agricultural resources into sustainable businesses, employment opportunities and increased revenue for farmers and other actors across the value chain.
