The U.S. Latino American Chamber of Commerce (USLACC) Africa has called on foreign investors to invest in Nigeria’s untapped economic potential to bring about development in the country.
Mrs Ifeoma Ejiogu, African Representative, USLACC Africa, said this when she led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Friday in Abuja.
Ejiogu said that the aim of the meeting was to seek partnership with the ministry to help to drive the growth of Nigeria’s economy and to actualize its goal of creating business links between Africa and the world.
She said that it was important to show case various investment opportunities to the world to boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
She added that her organisation, through its Africa Foreign Investors Trade Summit (Afrifits) has outlined events that would help salvage the good image of the country and Africa to the world.
“The untapped economic potential and comparative advantages in Africa are really great.
“These are found in agriculture, mineral resources, energy, education, aviation, ICT, emerging technologies, social enterprises and many more.
“Although project funding, credit and infrastructural financing, among others, have been a major challenge, USLACC Africa believes that, with global partnership, we shall make progress,” she said.
She added that irrespective of the security challenges faced in the country, her organisation would continue to restore the confidence of the country through its Afrifits programme.
“It is not only Nigeria that has security challenges.
“We are giving people confidence that Nigeria can still be a place to do business and there are things that can attract people to come and do business here.
“Such as our mineral resources, businesses, untapped opportunities that are still here,” she said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, who was represented by Mr Akinremi Bolaji, Director, Economic, Trade and Investment of the ministry, appreciated the team for the visit and assured of its readiness to collaborate with the organisation.
“Let us not limit this not just in Nigeria, let us reach out to other nations.
“We will like to work with what you have and add value to it, our desire is to make it happen.
“Just like our colleague from Congo said, Africa has what it takes to develop Africa, we need to start helping each other,” he said.
On his part, Mr Wonders Olenga, Secretary, Visa Section, Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who spoke in French, said it was important to change the narrative about Africa by promoting the good stories of the continent.
“The development of Africa starts with we the Africans, if you already have people like this to promote your country, let us try to support them to help develop our own country.
“How will ours be, because after Nigeria, it is Congo, we have resources just like Nigeria.
“I am very sure that if Nigeria develops, Congo will also develop,” he said.
