The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo CON, has disclosed that Nigeria has been one of France’s largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa and ranked among the top ten (10) Nigeria’s Export destinations.
Adebayo commended French Companies operating in Nigeria which has culminated into massive inflow of Foreign Direct Investment into country, adding that this has contributed immensely in providing job opportunities to Nigerian Youth.
The Minister made this known during a recent working visit of the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Jarome Pasquier to his Office, Abuja.
Adebayo further revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s led Administration is doing a lot in the area of Ease of Doing Business (EODB) as well as improving in the World Bank’s ranking. He therefore, urged France Companies to leverage on Nigeria’s investment opportunities to invest in the country.
“Government is creating a lot of Industrial Parks which France and other countries can further leverage on to improve economic ties with Nigeria. He added In the area of corruption, the Minister stressed that the present administration has been doing a lot to curb corruption and other vices in the country.
He also disclosed that its time to invest more in the country, especially, in the area of Agro-Allied Industries, Mining Sector, Information Technology, Transportation, Energy among others.
Adebayo stressed that Nigeria has a very conducive investment climate which makes it one of the leading Countries that offer good opportunities and safety to foreign investors.
Earlier, the France Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Jarome Pasquier stated that Nigeria is one of the key trading partners to France and a such cannot afford not to further strengthen the business bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Amb. Pasquier disclosed that France is determined to woo more investors to Nigeria in order to take advantage of Nigeria’s economic diversification process and other infrastructural development such as; Development of Free Trade Zones, Agro-Industries, Livestock, Ranching Activities, Tropical Agriculture, Geographic Information with aim of Nigeria’s products getting international recognition.
He further disclosed that the France Minister of Trade will visit Nigeria with more France Companies in order to boost trade bilateral relationship between the two Countries.
Ibrahim Haruna
Deputy Director/Head, Press and Public Relations Unit
