Friday, October 21, 2016
The Government of Spain has revealed plans aimed at
setting up Spanish manufacturing companies among other businesses in Nigeria,
which is targeted at exploring economic potential and build business relations
Nigeria.
This is even as an official trade delegation has
scheduled a visit to Nigeria in May 2017.The delegation having discussions with
government agencies and familiarizing itself with the business environment in
Abuja between May 8 and 9, and meeting with private sector operators in Lagos
on May 10, 2017 before leaving for their home country.
Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Alfonso Barnuevo
Sebastian De Erico, on Wednesday, dropped this hint, when he paid a courtesy
visit to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma,
in Abuja.
According to an official statement released by the
Media Adviser to the minister, Akpandem James, and made available to
journalists, the move is part of government efforts to attract foreign
investment into the country to boost the economy.
De Erico said it was time the two countries looked
into the future to find more ways of being mutually beneficial to each other,
particularly now that the country has a government that is sold to good
governance principles.
"We appreciate the effort of Nigeria in the
area of transparency and fighting corruption. We appreciate also its economic
policies; and these will take the country forward. We are very supportive of
Nigeria and its policies", he added.
The Ambassador said Spain has been investing in
Europe over time and now needs to move its focus to Africa, with Nigeria as a
preferred destination because of the country's huge market potentials.
"That is why we are bringing in Spanish companies to know the country and
also explore investment opportunities available", he explained.
He said though the number of Spanish companies
already doing business in Nigeria is increasing, the planned trip is very
special as the focus would be on some very specific areas, including
Construction, Energy and Environment and Water and Sanitation.
De Erico told the minister that he would appreciate
the full involvement of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and other
relevant Federal Government agencies in facilitating the realization of the
planned visit as it has enormous potentials of enhancing trade relations and
economic growth between the two countries.
The ambassador stressed that Nigeria and Spain have
enjoyed long lasting political and economic relations, adding that the time has
come to deepen the relationship with further investments in some sectors of the
Nigerian economy.
Udoma, while acknowledging the contributions of
Spain to Nigeria's economy over the years, particularly in the oil and gas
sector, said the Nigerian government is excited about the planned visit and
assured it will be fully involved in ensuring its success.
"On the visit of Spanish companies to Nigeria,
this is something that we will welcome. It is something we have been looking
forward to; something that we are encouraging. We believe you have a lot to
offer us and the Spanish companies will find Nigeria a convenient place to do
business. We are improving our ease of doing business template and making sure
that anybody who wants to do business in Nigeria has a much easier time.
"We are improving on our Visa system, to make
it faster to get Visa. We are giving extra support to our Export Processing
Zones in terms of infrastructure, to upgrade them so that they will be suitable
and convenient places for companies in Spain that would want to go into
manufacturing in Nigeria," he stated.
He pledged the readiness of the Ministry not only to
support the proposal of bringing in the companies to Nigeria but to liaise with
the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Nigeria Investments
Promotion Council (NIPC) and other relevant agencies of government to
facilitate the project.
The Minister told the Spanish envoy that Nigeria is
very interested in expanding its agricultural potentials, solid mineral
exploitation and infrastructure development, particularly in the area of roads,
rail and power. Concerning infrastructure, he informed that Nigeria is
exploring the option of partnership with the private sector to speed up the
realization of a massive infrastructure upgrade within the shortest possible
time.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN