President Mohammadu Buhari has given reasons why Nigeria is attractive for business.
He was speaking at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa in Amman Jordan.
According to him, “Our new, inclusive and diversified Nigeria is definitely open for business. Our population, resources, policies and programs make it the most attractive investment destination in Africa.”
He added that opportunities exist in key job creating sectors such as Agriculture, Health, Tourism, ICT, Infrastructure as well as Textile and garmenting among others.
“As friends and allies, we must therefore cooperate and leverage on our relative strengths. We must remain open to “Building New Platforms of Cooperation.
“In this new world without borders, my personal view is stability and sustainability can only be achieved through inclusive economic growth, and enhanced cooperation amongst nations,” the President said.
While reiterating for the umpteenth time that The terrorists sect, Boko Haram has been degraded, he stressed that the only way to overcome terrorism led by the likes of Boko Haram, ISIS, Al Qaeda and other forms of conflicts on the continent is for countries to work together towards narrowing the gaps in social and economic opportunities for citizens, particularly in this digital age where physical borders no longer exist to protect even the most secured nation.
Buhari who is attending the summit with the theme: “Building New Platforms of Cooperation,” on the special invitation of His Majesty, King Abdallah Bin Hussein of Jordan, said that cooperation amongst sovereign nations was no longer a choice but an absolute necessity.
The President, who decried that some of the deadliest conflicts in the continent’s recent history, noted that the deaths, damage and destruction caused by terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, ISIS and Boko Haram over the last 10 years will take decades to repair.
According to him, although Nigeria has made significant gains in tackling the menace of Boko Haram which had been largely degraded by the nation’s military, there was urgent need to address the lack of social and economic inclusion which, which he said are the root cause of many challenges the country was experiencing.
Buhari said: “Today, I am pleased to say no territory in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is held or controlled by Boko Haram,” further attributing the feat to “the many countries that have stood with Nigeria to confront this global scourge and in particular, the Kingdom of Jordan under the leadership of His Majesty, the King.”
“By the special grace of God, today, most of these terrorist organizations have been significantly degraded. The world came together to achieve this. Now, we are faced with the task of rebuilding.”
“Our population is one hundred and ninety million people. By 2050, it is estimated that we hit three hundred and ninety million making us the third most populous country in the world.”
The President, while calling on the leaders to begin work so as to ensure that the African population is productively engaged, stressed the need for Africa and the Middle East to specifically focus on policies that will deliver shared economic prosperity for all its citizens, especially focusing in the areas of trade and investments.
“We must ask ourselves how we, as a region, got to this point. The answer, at least in the case of Nigeria, is the lack of social and economic inclusion.
“Africa represents only five percent of Jordan’s trade with the world. But we have the resources, the people and the markets to do more.”
In his welcoming remarks, King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein said inclusive growth will be of benefit to the entire world, especially when it creates enabling environment for youths and women.
The king of Jordan said opportunities must be expanded fast, while noting that “the challenges we face are not only problems to be solved rather they are opportunities for collaboration.’’
UN Secretary General Secretary-General António Guterres said the world will be better off with stronger collaboration, commending Jordan for playing a historical role in restoring peace in the Middle East, especially between Israel and Palestine.
The founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Professor Klaus Schwab, who congratulated President Buhari for his re-election for a second term, said discussions at the forum will focus on new ideas, entrepreneurship, innovation, environment, peace and reconciliation.
Meanwhile, President Buhari departed Amman Sunday (today) for Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the ninth edition of the Annual Investment Meeting, April 8-10, 2019.
Invited by His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rachid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Nigerian President as Guest of Honour, will deliver the keynote address under the theme, “Mapping the Future of Foreign Direct Investment: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalization.”
According to the organisers, the meeting is “the largest gathering of corporate leaders, policymakers, businessmen, regional and international investors, entrepreneurs, leading academics and experts showcasing up-to-date information, strategies and knowledge on attracting FDI.”
The meeting also seeks to explore investment opportunities in more than 140 countries, connect businesses and countries willing to engage in sustainable partnerships with investors.
