The Governor, also announced a dimensional digital economic system to speed up agricultural activities and enhance exploration of different mineral resources around the state.
Oyetola, added that the Trade Fair was targeted at creating desirable means of exploiting local potentials to increase the state internally generated revenue and attract foreign exchange earnings, as he announced the establishment of e-commerce and Digital Economy Unit in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment.
The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Benedict Alabi, said the move would have multiplier effects on the state economy that it will serve as veritable platform for the advancement of individual and corporate initiatives.
He then expressed appreciation to BTG Africa for it's genuine concern in the economic transformation agenda of the South West Region, as reflected in the collaboration with the Governments in the region to make the South-West Local Governments Agriculture and Mineral Resources Trade Fair a success.
Oyetola, further emphasized that in this period of economic downturn, synergy on economic transformation at regional level remains a necessity for sustainable economic development.
Speaking on the theme "Stimulating Value Addition through Digital Economy for Nigeria’s Sustainable Development" Governor Oyetola said the development is timely and in tandem with the current trend of economic plan of the state.
He observed that the South-West States are basically agrarian, saying bringing all the Local Government Councils in the South West geo-political zone together to showcase their respective agricultural products and mineral resources would help in no small way in the quest for functional economy.
He, therefore, charged the South West States to find ways to make their farm produce have value, while explaining that it is the intention of Osun to leverage on the Fair to build a foundation for the take-off of the Aggregation/Commodity exchange Centres for the farm produce.
"Needless to say that the only outstanding business activity that thrived and stood out during the COVID-19 lockdown and is still thriving the most is the internet business, i.e. e-Commerce and Digital Economy. The business concerns that are thriving worldwide as of now are those associated with Information and Communication Technology.
"Activities around ICT soared during the lockdown and will continue to rise, which shows that this is the way the world is going.
"Thus, for our people to move with the trend of event around the world, Governments at all levels must embrace Digital Economy and e-Commerce. Apart from being the in-thing now, it is also a veritable source of revenue generation for both the Government and the citizenry.
"In keying to this current trend in Osun, our Government has approved the establishment of the e-commerce and Digital Economy Unit in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment.
"This Fair, which is expected to have positive multiplier effect on the economy of the States in the South-West, is aimed at maximally harnessing the potential of each Local Government Councils in the South-West and showcase such globally", Oyetola said.
Speaking at the programme, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Dr Bode Olaonipekun, said since the inception of Governor Oyetola's administration, all the 3 trade Fair zones namely Free Trade Zone Abere, International Trade Market Dagbolu and Trade Fair Complex Ido Osun are now back to live and currently in operation after several years of neglect.
Also in their separate remarks, the President, Osun Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Elder David Makanjuola and the National Vice President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Alhaji Bayo Jimoh, both commended Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for what they termed his unflinching support for their associations by making the business environment more productive, attractive and conducive.
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