The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday engaged diplomats of several countries on ways to deepen bilateral relations to promote the growth and development of Nigeria and their various economies.

LCCI President, Gabriel Idahosa, at the LCCI 2024 diplomatic luncheon in Lagos, noted that the Nigerian economy was blessed with several opportunities particularly its rich population.

In attendance were Leye Kupoluyi, LCCI Deputy President; ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Secretary to the State Government of Lagos and Svein Baera, Ambassador, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Abuja.

Others included Eivind Fjeldstad, Business Counsellor, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Abuja; Yan Yuqing, Consul General, Chinese Consulate General, Lagos and Frank Eggmann, Consul General, Consulate General of Switzerland, Lagos.

Also in attendance were Laurent FAVIER, Consul General, Consulate General of France, Lagos; Ugo Boni, Consul General, Consulate General of Italy, Lagos and Chandramouli Kumar Kern, Consul General, Consulate General of India, Lagos amongst others.

Mr Idahosa said the conversation was important to fetch from the diplomats’ rich, firsthand knowledge and expertise in driving foreign investments into the Nigerian economy.

He noted that Nigeria was Africa’s largest economy with an estimated Gross Domestic Product of $450 billion and a population of over two hundred million.

Mr Idahosa added that Lagos was the fifth largest economy in Africa, commercial nerve centre of Nigeria and the economic hub of the West African sub-region.

These, he said, put the LCCI in a strategic position to promote trade and facilitate investment between Nigeria and the rest of the world.

“This luncheon is also an opportunity for feedback on how the Nigerian economy has fared in the past year from the perspective of the diplomatic corps. Such feedback is important as we seek to ensure a more conducive investment environment for foreign and domestic investors.

“I am aware that the Nigerian economy, like many other economies, has its challenges. Through our collective efforts, we can contribute to the government policies process in making the business environment more conducive,” he said.

The Chairman of LCCI Diplomatic Luncheon, Knut Ulvmoen, promoted Lagos, Nigeria and Africa as the choice destination for investment.

He stated that Nigeria was so special because of her good people, saying the greatest investment is in its people.

Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, restated the commission’s commitment to continually engage Nigerians in the diaspora doing great things.

She said the government was ready to engage, work with and tap the enormous resources Nigeria has to drive socioeconomic growth and development.

She expressed hope that the next diaspora summit would take place in Nigeria and said everything would be done to encourage trade with various countries.

(NAN)