By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, has wooed foreign investors to come and invest in Nigeria.
He made remarks at a meeting with the investors on the sideline of the 78th United Nation General Assembly (UNGA), in New York USA, during the Economic Investment Summits 2023, organised by former President of the All Nigerian-American Congress (ANAC), Chief Amina Temitope Ajayi.
The Minster also witnessed the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Chief Temitope Ajayi and a US based automobile company as their major distributor.
Chief Ajayi also attracted over $19.4 billion investment to Nigeria during the Economic Investment Summits through her firm, Silicon Valley Nigerian Economic Development Inc. (SV-NED), in a statement posted to our correspondent.
In a joint statement from the partners, released after the signing of the memorandum of understanding, three investors, namely CITCO Global Holdings, Global Expansion AXIATel, and Allen Le & Partners International Vietnam, pledged to invest $5 billion, $3.2 billion, and $11.2 billion respectively in the development of various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
The sectors include tourism, aviation, technology, telecommunications, agriculture, entertainment, sports and energy industries.
The partnership is projected to also improve the country’s strained economy while creating employment opportunities for the youth.
Speaking about the partnership, Ajayi who is the Chief Executive Officer of SV-NED, said the economic summit in New York provided an opportunity to amplify the need for additional support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She explained that SDG Eight prioritises sustained inclusive and sustainable economic growth as well as productive employment and decent work for all.
“It also speaks to goal nine, which supports the need to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation,” she said.
According to her, the investment also promotes SDG 17, which talks about strengthening the means of implementation and revitalising the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
Speaking on the investment, the representative of Global Expansion AXIATel, Morgan Martinez, said the firm would be bringing a $3.2 billion investment to Nigeria, while at the same time developing the tourism, aviation, technology, telecommunications, agriculture, entertainment, sports and energy industries.
Also speaking, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Allen Le & Partners International Vietnam, Kingsley Onyeocha, pledged to invest up to $11.2 billion in the areas of eco-friendly transportation including electric vehicle assembly plant and batteries plant, 2:1 solar megawatt agric project, mining and affordable housing projects.
