Peter Uzoho
Nigeria and the United Kingdom have agreed to fast-track key regulations to deepen the insurance market, expand the digital economy and explore naira-denominated financial instruments in collaboration with the City of London. Both countries are also to endeavour to accelerate progress on franchise regulation to facilitate British brands’ positioning and investments that deliver sustainable new jobs in Nigeria.
According to a statement signed by the Strategy and Communications Adviser to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Bisi Daniels, these were part of the communique signed at the First Economic Development Forum (EDF) of both countries in Abuja, by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who led the UK delegation.
The forum was launched in August 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari and Prime Minister Theresa May as a platform to foster economic and development ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
But the latest event was to take stock of progress against the joint commitments made and celebrate the successes achieved so far.
The relationship is also expected to bring about sustained improvements in the efficiency of Nigeria’s international airports, the UK’s ability to increase airfreight capacity of its national carriers and enable Nigeria’s non-oil exporters to reach third market destinations via London.
“This joint effort supports Nigeria’s export diversification drive, pending critical trade facilitation improvements in the Nigerian ports,” the statement added.
In addition, it is expected to lead to, “extensive work to consult the Nigerian and British business community and identify critical joint work streams and key actions needed to boost bilateral trade and investment; the commitment of UK to provide more technical assistance in support of the Government of Nigeria’s efforts to diversify exports, attract investment and create jobs by improving the business environment and the need for opportunities to showcase high quality Nigerian and British goods and services in their respective markets, and for more Nigerian exports to comply with global standards for better bilateral trade and investment.”
Others include Nigeria’s commitment to continue the reforms and improvements in making the country’s operating environment conducive for businesses and investments.
The collaboration is also expected to help achieve a successful Africa Investment Summit in the United Kingdom in 2020 and to present a strong pipeline of investable projects in Nigeria that seek partnership with British investors.
Speaking at the forum, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who supervised the signing of the communique, expressed delight at the progress achieved in implementing the EDF since President Buhari and Prime Minister Theresa May initiated it in 2018.
He observed that despite the deep and long-standing relationship between Nigeria and United Kingdom, the current level of trade and investments between the two countries was materially below the potential the relationship suggests, given that Africa represents only two per cent of the UK’s trade relationships, and Nigeria represents only a tenth of that.
He called for all hands to be on deck to ensure that, “we foster the right environment to grow the level of bilateral trade and investment between our great countries.”
He said the federal government was not unmindful of the challenges that have hindered the business and investment environment in Nigeria, but it has taken these challenges as opportunities and have made the extensive build-out of modern infrastructure (both hard and soft) as the main thrust of the President Buhari Administration.
“We are committed to improving Nigeria’s competitiveness and making our country one of the easiest places to do business globally. The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) under my leadership, has made significant progress in reducing bottlenecks, eliminating redundancies and increasing transparency across government ministries department and agencies,” he said.
Also speaking, Enelamah said the economic relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom was special and mutually beneficial.
He described the EDF as a practical mechanism to build on the strength of the economic relationship; address challenges and hindrances to trade and investment and expand new growth areas.
He said “the areas of focus for improving the investment and trade relation between our countries, are clear-cut. Subsequently, we have highlighted the workstreams that we will work on for the next 6 – 24 months.”
Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Jeremy Hunt, said the importance of the Nigeria-UK Economic Development Forum cannot be over-emphasized.
He noted that Nigeria’s current demographics require government and other stakeholders to improve efforts and other interventions aimed at tackling unemployment and other challenges.
He advised government to adopt steps aimed at improving the investment climate, one of which is the approval of the revised Companies and Allied Matters Act.
