NIPC seeks stakeholders input to drive partnership
NAN-HE-16
Investment
By Lucy Nwachukwu
Abuja, Nov. 21, 2017 (NAN) The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) has called for the input of stakeholders in government to drive the Commercial Investment Dialogue (CID) partnership between Nigeria and the United State.
The Executive Secretary, NIPC, Ms Yewande Sadiku, said this at a meeting between the commission, representatives of the United States and some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Sadiku, represented by Mr Bala Bello, Director, Investor Relations Department of NIPC, said a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Nigerian government and the USA.
“The CID is an important strategic product consummated between the Nigerian government and United States of America (USA).
“The whole idea of the CID is basically to promote sustained economic engagement between the two countries, to identify key issues like private sectors that improve bilateral investment.
“The MoU for the CID have been signed, the first inaugural meeting has taken place between the NIPC Executive Secretary and Mr Seward Jones, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of Commerce of the U.S.
“The aim of this meeting basically is to solicit the input of stakeholders in government on how to move forward on the key identified issues,’’ she said.
Sadiku said the essence of the CID was to bring private sectors from both ends together to continue to proffer solutions to issues that affect investments.
This, according to her, will ensure investors are able to do business in the country with more ease for the prosperity of both countries.
She said the programme was unique as a secretariat would be set up to monitor, evaluate and see progress made by both countries for the benefit of both countries.
She added that this was in line with the focus of the Nigerian government for the economy.
On the inclusion of the private sector, she explained that it was one of the main essence of the meeting, to help increase the participation of the private sector.
In his remark, the U.S. representative of Commerce International Trade Administration, Mr Seward Jones, said the partnership would deepen and strengthen investment trade relationship between both countries.
“It will do this by leveraging the experience and underground prospectors of the business communities of both sides to help identify opportunities for strengthening our commercial relationships.
“And also perhaps, it will help on impediments or obstacles that may stand in the way of the business community in taking advantage of this opportunity.
“Once we have identified those opportunities, we will work together with private sector and government to explore ways to overcome the obstacles so that we may take advantage of the opportunities,’’ he said.
Jones explained that both countries had agreed to initially look at the three functional areas of infrastructure, agriculture and digital economy and two cross cutting functional areas of investment and regulatory reforms.
He, however, called on representatives of the various related MDAs present at the meeting to explore the key issues to ensure success of the partnership. (NAN)
LCN/OFN/EAL
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Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Ekemini Ladejobi