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.”
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)
No comments:
Post a Comment