The Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, Rosie Glazebrook, has proposed a deepened partnership between the federal and state governments that would boost trade and investment opportunities between Nigeria and other member countries of the Commonwealth.
Glazebrook made a case for enhanced collaboration by leading a delegation of CWEIC Strategic Partners during her separate meetings with Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja and the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in Lagos State, according to The Punch.
Glazerbrook also promised that the CWEIC would continue its support to the Nigerian Government and highlighted some of the Council events taking place both in Nigeria and outside, including 2025 the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit, London, and the proposed Trade and Investment Summit to be held in Nigeria in the second half of 2025.
She said, “We want to help boost trade and investment into Nigeria and equally support Nigerian businesses looking out to develop plans for more interactions with foreign partners.
“We would like to look up ways where we can encourage the Nigerian government and the business community to take advantage of the Commonwealth market across the 56 countries and other partners in the Middle East and North Africa.”
Commenting, Vice President Shettima stated that under the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria would be an important economic power in the world.
Shettima said, “Nigeria is where the attraction should be for investors all over the world as Nigeria will become a major global economic force under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
SanwoOlu welcomed the CWEIC delegation and spoke of the enormous potential that the State offers to investors as well as the main priorities of his administration.
Subsequently, SanwoOlu directed that the possibility of a strategic partnership with the CWEIC be explored by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem.
Meanwhile, Glazebrook said we have a long history of collaboration with Nigeria and noted that there were many cooperations between Lagos State and other States as strategic partners in the past.
Furthermore, Glazebrook said that the CWEIC is looking at all sectors in Nigeria, including energy, oil and gas, infrastructure, training of young people, maritime sector, healthcare as well as SMEs on how they can be supported.