Photo Caption: From left, Nigerian Ambassador to China, Amb. Usman Bakori; Chairman, Edo State Strategic Planning Team, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (standing); Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; Chairman, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Ltd, Mr Lin Yichong, during the MoU signing for the construction of Gelegele Seaport Project, in China, on Monday, January 8, 2018.

As part of plans to expand the economy of Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki, on Monday, in China, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) to develop the Gelegele Seaport and other transport infrastructure in the state.
The landmark event will see China Harbour Engineering Company, the biggest infrastructure firm in the world’s most populous nation, with a robust portfolio covering the broad infrastructure spectrum, lead the development of the seaport that will serve as the gateway for exporting manufactured goods from the Benin Industrial Park under construction and other manufacturing companies in the region, according to a statement by the state government.
The MoU signing is the result of series of engagements between Governor Obaseki and the Chairman of China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC), Lin Yichong, which began last year.
Some of the projects the Chinese company is handling include the construction-dredging/excavation for waterfront development in Yanbu, southwest Saudi Arabia and on the northern shore of the Red Sea as well as the Lagos moles repair project, being executed by the Nigeria Port Authority.
Others are the Offshore Approach Light Structure in New Doha International Airport, which includes three terminal bridges and three temporary steel bridges and the Ma’aden Infrastructure Project Port Design and Construction, owned by the Saudi Arabian Mining Company, amongst others.
Earlier, the governor was at the Nigerian Embassy in China to discuss his developmental plans for Edo State with officials of the Nigerian Mission in the Asian country and sought areas of collaboration.