The Trade Commissioner of Business Finland in West Africa, Mr Olu Raheem, on Wednesday said that it was important for Nigerians to understand that Finnish companies were not quick at building subsidiaries abroad.
Raheem told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that as much as the Finland recognises Nigeria’s potential they would want some understanding before embarking on any long-term business engagement.
The trade commissioner, who said that his organisation had been working to attract more Finnish companies to Nigeria, expressed satisacfation with the growing interest of more Finnish companies in Nigeria.
“The biggest problems in Nigeria and Finland’s trade and investment promotion opportunities have been lack of awareness and adequate knowledge about Nigeria and West Africa in general.
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“But over these years, we have been able to some extent, give Finnish companies some accurate information about the opportunities for them in Nigeria.
“We want Nigerians to know that Finnish companies are quite reluctant to form subsidiaries.
“Finnish companies like to study their partners, but when that relationship is forged, it becomes loyal, dependable and a long-standing relationship,’’ he said.
Raheem said that his organisation had been working to positively project the opportunities in Nigeria to Finnish companies, especially now that Africa had become a business strategy for foreign companies.
The Finnish official said that Business Finland had in the last three years interacted with about 130 different Finnish companies on the huge existing investment and business opportunities for them in Nigeria.
He said that the organisation would this year be receiving some delegations from Finland to Nigeria, as well as organise some road shows in Finland to showcase opportunities in Nigeria to Finnish companies and investors.
Raheem said that the Business Finland, which was established to promote Finland’s trade and investment in West Africa would continue to attract more Finnish companies to Nigeria in the years ahead.
“We have seen the impact and increase in the number of companies coming into Nigeria. We have also seen increase in our interactions on the political levels.
“We now even have some Nigerians who are interested in doing businesses directly with Finland companies. These interactions have continued to foster and generate interest in Finland,’’ he said. (NAN)
