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The Federal
Government said it is determined to take advantage of improving the
business environment in the country to attract more foreign direct
investments, particularly from Europe, in the hope of growing the
nation’s economy into one of the world’s 20 biggest economies by 2020.

An international
business forum is being planned for Dublin, Ireland, early next month,
as part of efforts to mobilise European investors to participate in the
development of the different sectors of the nation’s economy.

The 2nd Business
Forum of the International Gateway Partnership (I-GEP 2010)Summit,
according to Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ireland, Kema Chikwe, will provide
political leaders and business executives from Nigeria, Ireland, and
other countries, the opportunity to come together to share ideas on new
partnerships and investment destinations in the country.

The three-day
summit will feature a bankers’ financial forum and exhibition, as well
as a tour of business and industrial sites across Ireland by Nigerian
business delegation.

It will also
feature sessions on a wide range of investment opportunities and
businesses, including power and energy, agriculture and agro-allied
industries, construction and property development, transport, solid
minerals, education, health, tourism, ICT, and manufacturing.

Opportunities for networking

“Building on the
successful forum held last year, I believe that I-GEP 2010 will yield
practical ideas on enhancing trade, mobilising investment, and
strengthening economic links between the participating countries. I am
confident that the opportunities for commercial networking through the
forum will be highly valuable to facilitate the continued growth in
trade relations between Nigeria and Ireland,” Mrs. Chikwe said in Abuja.

“It will highlight
new global economic partnership arrangements to promote trade and
investment in key market sectors in the Nigerian economy, while the
business forum will present the useful platform for fostering
partnerships and collaborations among participants. It is predictable
that sustainable recovery and development of the regions, especially
post-global meltdown, will depend greatly on the strength of these
collaborations.”

The forum, which
the ambassador said will help in the liberalisation and deregulation of
the country’s economy, will be hosted in collaboration with the
Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) to stimulate domestic
investment and attract direct foreign investment.

Key participants in
quest for funding, equity share, and regional business partnerships are
also expected to take advantage of the forum to exchange proposals on
portfolio of investment, while countries and financial institutions in
the emerging markets would find common grounds for collaboration.

Bamanga Tukur, the
chairman, African Business Roundtable (ABR), added that the forum would
provide opportunity for networking and business partnership. It would
also serve as business exchange centre for delegates to engage with
potential investors, investment bankers, and knowledge partners in
sharing business ideas.

“The summit will provide the option where project and business
summaries can be made available in advance to interested investors and
partners, while all project holders will be made available and
accessible for one-on-one meetings,” Mr. Tukur said.