Stakeholders from Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have stressed the need to harness diaspora expertise and capital to create stronger economic partnerships and deepen bilateral relations between both countries.

The stakeholders spoke at a press conference organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Friday while announcing the second edition of the Nigeria-Saudi Arabia Investment and Tourism Exhibition scheduled for August 4 and 5 in Abuja.

Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the summit would provide a platform for greater collaboration between Nigerian Diaspora communities in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi government and private sector actors.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, represented by the commission’s secretary, Sulieman Bassi, said the first edition of the exhibition held in 2019 attracted more than 30 Saudi companies and corporate organisations.

She noted that efforts to hold the second edition in Kano two years ago were unsuccessful due to unforeseen circumstances.

According to her, the event is part of NiDCOM’s flagship Diaspora initiatives aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and creating investment opportunities between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

She said the summit, themed “Misconceptions, Challenges, and Opportunities in Investing in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria”, would feature more than 100 exhibitors across 20 investment sectors.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa listed the sectors to be featured as energy, oil and gas, renewable energy, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, ICT, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, among others.

She added that the exhibition would include business-to-business matchmaking sessions and other activities aimed at facilitating partnerships among investors and stakeholders.

The NiDCOM chairman disclosed that a delegation from Saudi Arabia comprising academics, business leaders and members of the Nigerian Diaspora community had arrived in Abuja for the event.

She urged interested participants to complete registration early to ensure smooth access to the venue.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa further disclosed that plans were underway to make the exhibition a biannual event, with future editions expected to rotate between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

Also speaking, the chief executive officer of Aliyaro International Limited, Muhammad Umar, said the exhibition was designed to deepen trade, investment and tourism relations between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Mr Umar said the initiative would serve as a platform for governments, investors, entrepreneurs and institutions to establish strategic partnerships and explore new economic opportunities.

He said the exhibition was being organised by Aliyaro International Limited in collaboration with NiDCOM and other public and private sector stakeholders from both countries.

According to him, the event would attract ministers, governors, lawmakers, diplomats, investors, chambers of commerce and business organisations from Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

Mr Umar expressed confidence that the exhibition would grow into a major bilateral economic platform connecting Africa and the Middle East.

The summit would highlight the objectives of the Nigeria-Saudi Arabia Diaspora Investment and Tourism Initiative, while addressing investment challenges and promoting frameworks to support cross-border partnerships.

The event will also introduce institutional and technical partners, including diaspora-led organisations committed to linking capital with investment opportunities across borders. 

(NAN)