NTIC To Host Ogun Investment Team In London
By Andrew Iro Okungbowa
IN a bid to boost the economy of Ogun State, and attract foreign direct investment, Governor Gbenga Daniel has stepped up plans to visit London on a business exploration. The governor will be leading a team of business people and government officials from the state on a five-day visit.
On arrival, members of the Nigerian Trade Investment Centre (NTIC) based in London who are playing host and also facilitators of the trip would receive the team. A major attraction of the five-day tour, which is officially expected to commence on August 25 is the unveiling of the Gateway City project that is scheduled to hold at the Marriott Hotel in Kensington on Saturday 28.
According to NTIC officials, the governor and his entourage would in the course of the visit explore many industrial sites in the United Kingdom and hold discussions with a number of prospective investors and business concerns with a view to exposing them to the state government's blueprint on capacity development and technological advancement of the state.
Planned as part of the Gateway City project is a dinner reception being sponsored by the executive chairman of Great Properties, Rev. (Dr.) Olajide Awosedo. The forum is to create an avenue for NTIC to formally present a platform for the governor to share his vision of an ultra modern town development to prospective foreign investors and high network of Nigerian professionals and entrepreneurs willing to partner in the project.
On the effort of the (NTIC) to attract investment to Nigeria, the chief executive officer of the centre, Mr. Afolabi Andu said that selling Nigeria to the world is very paramount and core of the activities of the centre, stressing that the centre is presently strategising and doing everything possible to build a positive image for Nigeria abroad in order to make the country attractive to both foreign and Nigerian investors and professionals.
He revealed that as part of this strategic effort, NTIC is organising a two-day trade and business exhibition on Nigeria. The exhibition, he said, is tagged 'The Best of Nigeria Expo 2004,' billed to hold between November 12 and 13 at the Wembley Conference Centre, London. It is aimed at educating and re-orientated the general public about Nigeria: A country whose viability and resources cannot be ignored.
Also, the organisers said that the two-day exhibition would present the best of Nigeria's resources and project both its economic potential and values to the national and international community. The event is expected to create a highly visible brand for Nigeria. According to the organisers, NTIC has enlisted the services of Purple Pages (UK), Integral Consultants, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and the Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce in seeing the exhibition to fruition.
Mr. Andu, head of NTIC, expressed belief that the Expo would support the current drive of Nigeria's government to diversify the Nigerian economy while at the same time encouraging both small and large scale Nigerian manufacturers and businesses to participate in the export of goods and services that target the international market and the vibrancy of the Nigerian community on the UK.
With more than 250 exhibitors expected to display at the fair, over 50, 000 visitors are targeted. The target audience, the organisers say, include Nigerians in the UK, representatives of the Nigerian government, representatives of international governments, manufacturers and service providers interested in doing business with Nigeria, manufacturers and service providers currently doing business in the UK, residents of the UK interested in understanding the Nigerian commercial environment, public and private bodies from Nigeria.
Also expected to feature are series of seminars, workshops, conferences, radio broadcast and a lot of musical and cultural entertainment and fashion shows that would reflect the richness of the Nigerian culture.
