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ANAND SHARMA CALLS FOR HARNESSING OPPORTUNITIES IN MINES AGRICULTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS IN NIGERIA
Date : 15 Jan 2010
Location : New Delhi
Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, in his keynote address, at the India-West Africa Business Seminar in Nigeria, has emphasised the strategic relationship between the two countries and called upon the businesses of the region to forge new partnerships. He also stressed on the need for Indian business community to harness the immense opportunities in the mining, metal, energy, agriculture and infrastructure sectors. The seminar was attended by more than 300 business persons from India and Nigeria. Earlier, Shri Sharma along with his Nigerian counterpart also inaugurated the “Made in India” exhibition, with participation from 50 Indian companies. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ECOWAS and FICCI was also signed. The Namaskar Africa 2010 was especially topical since Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa with the overall trade at $ 10.2 billion in 2008-2009. Among other prominent participants were Nigerian Minister of Commerce & Industry and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs besides the President elect of FICCI and President of ECOWAS, the economic grouping of 15 Western African countries.
Shri Sharma also held a bilateral meeting with his Nigerian counterpart Minister Chief Achike Udenwa. Both the ministers discussed the bilateral commercial relations and ways of forging relationship in the areas of agriculture, textile, power, infrastructure and energy. The Nigerian side especially requested the Indian side for assistance in these areas. The important role the Indian Pharmaceutical industry play in the healthcare system in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general was also discussed in detail and duly recognised by the Nigerian Minister.
Shri Sharma later delivered key note address on “Significance of Africa-India Partnership in Emerging World Order” at Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), a prominent think-tank on international affairs in Nigeria.
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