NAN-HE-23
Maritime
By Aisha Cole
Lagos, March 29, 2017 (NAN) Mr Ronny Berg, the Norwegian Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, says Norwegians are interested in investing in Nigeria, especially the maritime sector.
According to a statement by the Head, Corporate Communications, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Isichei Osamgbi on Wednesday in Lagos, Berg said this during a courtesy call on the Director-General of the agency, Dr Dakuku Peterside.
Berg was received along with the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jens-Peter Kjemprud.
He said that Norway was willing to support NIMASA in delivering a safe maritime economy.
“Norway has had trade ties with Nigeria since the 1890s when stock fish from Norway was shipped into Nigeria,’’ Berg said.
According to him, Nigeria is Norway’s biggest trading partner in Africa, hence the need to strengthen the ties through cooperation and collaboration.
Peterside said NIMASA would showcase the potential of the Nigerian maritime sector at the Norway Shipping Week scheduled to hold later this year.
He said that Nigeria’s participation at the event was part of measures to attract foreign investors to tap into opportunities that abound in the Nigerian maritime industry.
Peterside said that Nigeria had a very rich maritime heritage, saying that the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, would lead a delegation from Nigeria to the event in Norway.
“The delegation, to be led by the minister, will hold meetings with maritime stakeholders during the Norway Shipping Week to discuss opportunities in the Nigerian maritime industry,’’ the director-general said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NIMASA regulates the maritime sector with its functions cutting across shipping development, maritime safety and capacity development in line with the NIMASA Act 2007 and other enabling instruments. (NAN)
AIC/AJA/IA
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(Edited by Adeleye Ajayi/Idris Abdulrahman)