Commonwealth Business Council
By Yemi Akinsuyi
The Co-chairman of the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), Mr. Gregor Mckinnon, has described Nigeria as the investment hub of Africa with abundant opportunities for prospective investors.
Mckinnon stated this in Abuja at a media briefing on the second Nigeria International Investment Forum (NIIF) being organised by the CBC: Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the Image Affairs Nigeria Ltd., between June 27 and 29 in Abuja.
He explained that the forum is being organised “to build on the work of Commonwealth Business Council in the private sector of Nigeria”, adding that it would also enable the council to consolidate on its investment programme in the country.
The CBC boss, who disclosed that the council has been supporting the Presidential Retreat on Power in Nigeria in the last two years, said the forum would give priority attention to the key sectors of the economy like oil and gas, agriculture, tele-communications and others.
“The second Nigeria International Investment Forum will give us the opportunity to build on our efforts and to focus on the key sectors for economic growth of Nigeria. It will also allow us to build on strong business forum between Nigeria and Australia”, he stated.
Mckinnon added that the organisers would use the forum to attract international investors to Nigeria and also raise awareness about those sectors and projects where they could partner with the federal government.
Speaking in the same vein, the Chief Executive of Image Affairs Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Anette Dore described investment as an important factor to drive the nation’s economy.
Dore said: “Nigeria is investment destination and that is why we want to use the second edition of the forum to be held in Abuja between June 27 and 29 to help the country expand its investment opportunities. We have invited prospective investors from all over the world to attend the forum”.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NIPC, Mr. Mustafa Bello, informed that the forum, which was started by the commission in 2003, would further showcase the abundant investment opportunities in the country, especially the economic transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Bello pointed out that Nigeria has huge potential and abundant natural resources, saying that the federal government was committed to creating a business friendly climate that is attractive to international investors.
To achieve this, he said NIPC has been facilitating the activities of CBC in Nigeria, and commended the council and the Image Affairs Nigeria for sustaining the investment forum in the country.
Also speaking, the chairman of Image Affairs Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, underscored the abundance of investment opportunities in the country and assured that the forum would help prospective investors to receive necessary information needed to establish and grow their businesses in Nigeria.
About 300 foreign investors are expected to participate in the second Nigeria International Investment Forum.