Greece To Boost
Investments In Nigeria
Greece
has indicated interests in investing in the Nigerian economy.
Her envoy in Nigeria, Ambassador Dionisios Sourvanos, said the
interest became imperative because Nigeria has the ’’biggest
market potential in Africa’’.
Sourvanos stated this when he paid a visit to the Minister of
Commerce and Industry, Chief Achike Udenwa, in Abuja. The
Ambassador was accompanied on the visit by some Greek
businessmen.
According to the Greek envoy, ’’The traditional ties between
the two countries are fresh and cordial, we have a very small
but important Greek business community here and there is a need
for foreign direct investment.’’
He lists some of the areas that businessmen in Greece would be
exploring.
’’We have concerns in the shipping sector but we would like
to explore oil and gas and agricultural sectors which have great
prospects,’’ the envoy said.
The Nigerian Commerce and Industry minister, Chief Udenwa said
the Nigerian economy had undergone a lot of metamorphosis and
reforms to attract Greece to all its sectors.
’’These reforms have enabled participation in all sectors,
making business transactions easier and providing a good climate
for investors…’’We urge that arrangements be made for Greek
investors to come and form partnerships with our local
businessmen in the telecommunications, agricultural and solid
minerals sectors,’’ Udenwa said.
The Minister said that forming such partnerships had been made
easy by the ’one-stop-shop’, a department supporting investors
to incubate their ideas and commence businesses as fast as
possible in the country.
’’The process becomes faster if such investors have the
required immigration permits and other necessary requirements,
to participate.’’ The minister said.
’’I do hope your posting to Nigeria and your visit will open
a new chapter in our relations. Nigeria has one of the largest
markets in Africa and is a hub for most African regions…There’s
need to negotiate trade promotion and agreement as quickly as
possible,’’ Udenwa said.
According to him, Greece has been an old business partner of
Nigeria before independence as exemplified by the existence of
companies like Leventis and Mandilas in Nigeria.s
NAN/Yinka
