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France, South Africa seek closer economic ties with Lagos

France Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gauer, and the South Africa Consul-General, Ambassador Mokgethi Monaisa, on Wednesday paid separate courtesy visits to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with the duo indicating the interest of their countries to increase their economic presence in the state.

Gauer, who was joined by the Consulate General of France and Head of Mission, Marcel Escure; Head of Regional Economic Department, Dominique Simon; and the Commercial Counsellor, Head of Regional Economic Department in Lagos, Mr. Francis Widmer, said France was interested in Lagos as it’s the economic capital of Nigeria and West Africa.
He added that more French companies were considering establishing their presence in Lagos as well as partner the state government on infrastructural development.

The envoy stated, “The French community in Nigeria, the greatest part of it is in Lagos not in Abuja, and especially our companies are all present here in Lagos. We have more than 50 offices of big French companies all established here in Lagos and more are coming.”
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Gauer explained that the French Development Company was currently partnering the state on the financing of certain projects in city planning, public transportation and waste management and hoped to expand the scope in future.

Ambode told the French envoy that Lagos was expanding its frontiers to accommodate investors willing to set up their businesses in the state, assuring the envoy that his administration would ensure that their investments were secured.

The governor said the state government was putting finishing touches to policies and strategies that would strengthen its economic ties with neighbouring French speaking countries in West Africa.

He added, “I know that Lagos is also a major commercial city and we have not done enough to attract bilateral trade and relationship with most of the French speaking countries. So, it gladdens my heart that the Ambassador is here today.

“On our part, we have decided that we are going to expand relationship with our neighbours and other nations and that’s why we decided to set up an Office of Overseas Affairs and Investments to be able to establish once and for all a permanent structure that allows us to have good trading, economic opportunities and relationship with all our neighbours and other nations.

“I am excited that beyond the 50 companies that you have in Lagos, France is deeply interested in having more economic presence here and when we talk of economic presence, we are actually referring to Lagos. I am excited that Tafoo is planning to set up malls in Lagos as quickly as possible. I am excited that Societe General Bank is coming back and also a majority of the French companies are trying to ensure that they have a place in Lagos.”
Ambode later received the Consul General of South Africa, Monaisa, to his office.

The South African envoy said he was in the governor’s office to intimate him with the line up of activities to mark the birth of the late South African icon, Dr. Nelson Mandela.

Ambode expressed his administration’s readiness to extend the frontiers of trade and economic relations with South Africa.

He recalled the important role Mandela played in the institutionalisation of democracy in Africa, saying the late South African leader was instrumental to the political emancipation of his country.

The governor urged African countries to draw lessons from the heroic ideals of great men like Mandela to continue to propagate ideas of the common good.

He listed Information and Communication Technology, tourism and hospitality as well as oil and gas sectors as possible strong areas where such bi-lateral relations could be strengthened.

Speaking earlier, Ambassador Monaisa noted that South Africa-Nigeria relations had come a long way not just as trade partners but as brothers and sisters.

(Punch)

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