Sequel to
that trip, French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr.
Denys Gaver, led a delegation of 50 Heads of companies to the Nigerian
Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) in Abuja a few days ago. The French
envoy said that France had restored bi-lateral relationship with Nigeria.
In Mr.
Gaver’s own words: “Nigeria is already the first
trading partner for France in Africa, don’t forget that and we are exporting
also to Nigeria worth $1.5 billion per year. So it is not so bad but it is true
that we could do much more now.
“The
political cooperation between France and Nigeria has developed very positively
recently. We are helping to fight against Boko Haram in the north. We are
encouraging neighbouring countries to work very closely with Nigeria, and we
are working with the Nigerian Armed forces to fight terrorism.
“It
is a real partnership that is developing between Nigeria and France in the
political field and in the security field. It is true that we have to do more
in the economic field therefore we have to attract more French companies to
come to Nigeria to invest and establish partnership with Nigeria.”
Mr. Gaver
promised to showcase the new Nigeria and its development to Francophone
countries, saying: “It is true that many French
companies probably still have the vision of Nigeria of 20 years ago. So we have
to update them on the real realities now of Nigeria.”
The companies
comprising of Large, medium and small are also focusing in many opportunities
of the Nigerian market including building, transportation, environment, energy,
power, security, transport and sustainable cities.
Leader of
the Head of companies, Mr. Pierre Gattaz
who is also the President of the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF),
said Nigeria is a land of investments and development for French companies.
Africa is our new frontier.
He added: “Nigeria is the largest economy and the largest population on
the continent, the middle class is emerging in Nigeria, which demand new
infrastructures, facilities and equipment, but also in services and leisure.”
Chairman of
the delegation in Nigeria, Chief Audu
Ogbe, who is an erstwhile Minister of Mines and Steel Development, assured
the companies that Nigeria is correcting the mistakes of the past.
Chief Ogbe
said: “We have a government that is determined to
correct the mistakes of the past. No matter the challenge we are facing, the
reality is far better that what we see or read in the media.”
While
welcoming the companies to Nigeria, Executive Secretary of NIPC, Mrs. Uju Baba-Hassan, told the
companies that investment potentials are huge in Nigeria.
In her own
words: “The opportunities are huge, the profits are
good and we have a government today that is determined to correct the mistakes
of the past and to make sure things are done correctly. We have NIPC which is
one stop shop and it is good to do business through them so that they can help
guide you through the rules and regulations and make sure that the partners you
are dealing with are people they can verify.”
No comments:
Post a Comment