Business
Governor Abiodun Welcomes Qatar’s Baladna multi-million dollar dairy factory in Ogun
“If you could meet 35% of Qatar’s milk demand in one month and achieve self-sufficiency in six, I have no doubt you can do the same in Nigeria. Your operations here will be a walk in the park—no deserts,”
Qatari dairy giant Baladna is set to establish a multi-million-dollar food production facility in Ogun State, Nigeria
The investment is expected to boost local dairy production and food security significantly.
Baladna, which supplies over 95% of Qatar’s fresh dairy products, disclosed its plans during a courtesy visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun in Abeokuta.
The delegation was led by Baladna’s Head of Products and Solutions Architecture, Mr. Aidan Thomas Iynan, and accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi.
Mr. Iynan revealed that Baladna’s integrated dairy model, backed by Qatari government investment, now operates the world’s largest single-site dairy farm.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria—and Ogun State in particular—could replicate similar success, citing a partnership with Algeria that is expected to deliver 1.7 billion litres of milk annually, meeting 50% of Algerian dairy demand.
He highlighted the impact of climate change on global agriculture, stressing the urgency for Nigeria to attain dairy self-sufficiency.
“We can build farms that are highly efficient with world-class yields—not just in dairy and meat, but crop production too,” Iynan said.
Governor Abiodun welcomed the investment, describing Baladna as the type of partner needed to realise the Renewed Hope Agenda in agriculture.
“If you could meet 35% of Qatar’s milk demand in one month and achieve self-sufficiency in six, I have no doubt you can do the same in Nigeria. Your operations here will be a walk in the park—no deserts,” he remarked.
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Business
WEF could appoint Lagarde as its next chair, sources say
The WEF’s Board of Trustees, which includes Lagarde herself, was due to meet on November 2 and could elect her as its next chair, said the people close to the organisation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
•European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde
The World Economic Forum could appoint Christine Lagarde as its next chair as soon as next month, four people close to the organisation told Reuters, meaning she would step down early as European Central Bank chief and trigger a wider reshuffle at the top of the ECB.Lagarde’s ECB term is scheduled to end in October 2027.
Leaving early would give European Union leaders a chance to pick a new ECB President before France’s spring presidential election, which opinion polls suggest the far-right could win, and could pave the way for a deal involving two other senior ECB roles.
The WEF’s Board of Trustees, which includes Lagarde herself, was due to meet on November 2 and could elect her as its next chair, said the people close to the organisation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
No final decision has been taken yet, they said.
A spokesperson for the WEF said the forum could not confirm when the next full Board of Trustees meeting would take place, but that the aim was to hold one before the end of the year.
Business
Germany plans tax on sugary drinks
The tax is expected to generate additional revenue for the federal government of €690 million in 2027 and €925 million in 2028.
The German cabinet has approved draft legislation to tax sugary drinks in Europe’s biggest economy.
If passed by the German Bundestag, the tax will take effect on 1 July 2027.
The coalition aims to raise revenue for the federal budget while encouraging manufacturers to reduce sugar content and offer healthier products.
The levy is intended to ease pressure on the healthcare system, which faces costs of more than €2 billion every year linked to the high consumption of sugary drinks, which contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
According to the federal government, Berlin is using the tax to implement “what associations from the fields of health, science, child protection, and consumer protection have long been demanding.”
The tax is expected to generate additional revenue for the federal government of €690 million in 2027 and €925 million in 2028.
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