Tinubu Emphasizes Economic Growth in Nigeria-France Relations
President Bola Tinubu has underscored the imperative of translating the burgeoning economic ties between Nigeria and France into meaningful developmental outcomes. With bilateral trade expected to reach $4.7 billion by 2025, he stressed the importance of this relationship at the 10th France-Nigeria Business Council meeting conducted during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
In a statement released on Tuesday, President Tinubu pointed out Nigeria’s status as France’s primary investment hub in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the increasing economic significance of this partnership. He noted that the next phase of this collaboration must prioritize job creation, industrial expansion, infrastructure development, and the pursuit of general prosperity.
The President reiterated, “Trade between the two nations set to hit $4.7 billion by 2025 underscores our economic ties’ weight. This partnership must transition into actionable measures that foster job creation and infrastructural growth.”
President Tinubu described the business council meeting as a pivotal step in elevating Nigeria-France relations from mere diplomatic exchanges to tangible economic collaboration. “Nigeria stands ready to welcome investments to bolster our production capabilities and establish enterprises aimed at job creation,” he remarked.
He stated that Nigeria and France are moving beyond goodwill gestures, embarking on a new era focused on substantial economic execution. The conference brought together top governmental representatives from both nations and significant private sector players to assess current projects and explore new avenues for cooperation.
Earlier reports indicated that President Tinubu led a delegation comprising members of the Nigerian government, diplomatic corps, and business leaders to the Africa Forward Summit at the Kenyatta Convention Center in Nairobi, where he advocated for enhanced economic integration to foster Africa’s growth and prosperity.
Among the attendees were Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, and France’s Foreign Trade representative, Nicolas Forissier. The President lauded Aigboje Aig-Imukwuede, Chairman of the France-Nigeria Business Council, for successfully facilitating a productive dialogue among business leaders from both nations.
Nigerian and French Business Leaders Forge Collaborations
The event saw the participation of prominent Nigerian business executives, including Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, Wale Tinubu, Kola Karim, and Kashim Bukal. Their involvement signals a robust commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and investment.
Senior executives from notable French corporations, such as Patrick Pouyanné from TotalEnergies, Rodolphe Saadé from CMA CGM, and representatives from Danone and Accor, also contributed to the discussions. President Tinubu particularly highlighted the recent partnership between Accor and Shoreline Group to establish Nigeria’s first national hotel platform, viewing it as a significant endorsement of investor confidence in Nigeria’s hospitality, tourism, and services sector.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to implementing reforms that enhance the business climate, promote trustworthy investments, and elevate Nigeria’s competitive edge in the global market. He opined that the future of relations between Africa and Europe will increasingly hinge on practical investments spanning various sectors, including manufacturing, energy, technology, agriculture, logistics, and tourism.
