By Linus Aleke, Abuja
Nigeria has taken bold step to deepen diplomatic and economic relations with the Spanish authorities, by establishing Nigerian-Spanish Business Council for Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
Unveiling the new Council during a press conference in Abuja, the President of
Nigerian – Spanish Council for Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Ide John Udeagbala, said, the Council will open gateways for businesses to thrive in both countries.
Noting that the newly established Council will woo Spanish investors to establish industries in Nigeria, Ide Udeagbala, also assured that the move would impact positively on the nation’s economy and drastically reduce unemployment in the country.
He said: “The membership of this Council shall be open to reputable individuals and companies who have business interests in Europe and Africa and wish to use the two countries as an entry point. We will also encourage and work towards the establishment of Industries in Nigeria by Spanish investors. We shall do our best to protect such interests and ensure that their operations impact positively on the reduction of unemployment in the country”.
He disclosed that the Council is a product of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Nigeria and Spain in 2022 in the course of the visit of the then president, Muhammadu Buhari to Spain.
He further noted that the Council is established to engender the following: “A more robust business relationship between the two countries, at inter- governmental level. Mutual introduction of businesses from both Nigeria and Spain to areas of business interest. Smooth facilitation of trade mission to and from the both countries, and building of human capital and business logistics for the advancement of commerce and industry in both countries”.
“It is believed that the mutual benefits of this relationship will cascade down the line and be of huge benefits to the ordinary persons in both countries,” he further said.
On his part, the Deputy President the Council, Dr. Membre Otaji, said, the council would formalize a lot of businesses that have been going on between Spainairds and Nigerians and at the same time open up new ones.
“Nigerian businesses have been doing businesses with Spanish companies for decades, but in-between you have the good, the bad and the ugly. So how are they going to be formalized? That is why the two Presidents said, look, set up something like this. Although Nigeria is going through some turbulent times in our businesses and in our private homes, but what we are doing now is going to open gateways for businesses and production to thrive”.
He said that Nigeria has a big market of over two hundred million people, adding that with things like this, Spanish companies and investors will be very interested.
The Coordinator, Dr Jasper Uduagwuike, said, the Council would begin by exploring immediate areas where Nigerian can benefit in agriculture before moving into manufacturing.
“Spain is a highly developed country, they are very huge on industry, animal husbandry, wine and fabrics. So these are the areas where we want to encourage our business men to gain from. You will be amazed to know that up to 15 Nigerians have winery in Spain. So, already there is a link. So we will just grow from the known to the unknown. We will start with agriculture, we will go into manufacturing and then we look at mines and industry,” he concluded.
