By Shile GIWA
Friends of Nigeria (FON), a Nigerian organisation operating in Europe, on Monday said that there were impressive indications for more investment and trade inflows between Nigeria and France this year, and in 2020.
TBI Africa said FON’s Co-Founder and Vice-President, Mr Abiodun Odunuga, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that both countries had evolved ways of promoting their investment and trade relations.
Odunuga said that the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Nigeria was a demonstration of the French government’s commitment to
expanding her areas of interest with Nigeria.
The organisation’s vice-president said that members of the Nigerian Investment Club (FNIC) composed of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mr Tony
Elumelu, Mr Mike Adenuga and others, had also started promoting investments between both countries.
“Let me say that with President Macron’s last visit to Nigeria, the French government has demonstrated her interest along other sectors
such as innovation, culture and entertainment.
“We also have stakeholders such as the French Agency for Development, Business France and others, indicating interest in the
investment channels of the Nigerian government’s diversification agenda.
“The FNIC is also poised to achieve its purpose by complementing other agencies and institutions that work in the same vein to deepen
socio-economic ties between France and Nigeria.
“These engagements signal a potential increase in trade in the coming months between both countries. We foresee more investment flows
between our two countries this year, 2019, and in 2020,’’ he said.
Odunuga said that FON and ADEPTA had also decided to lead a trade mission of seven French companies to Nigeria from March 26 to March 29,
to attract more French investors to Nigeria.
He said that FON had been at the forefront of attracting more French investors to Nigeria within the last three years.
Odunuga said that the organisation had within the period also facilitated the visit of French companies interested in doing businesses, as well
as conducting marketing analysis for them in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Imports from France was US$1.13 Billion in 2017.
