The National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Jani Ibrahim, has urged Chinese investors to do more business, invest and establish partnerships with Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by NACCIMA’s National Public Relations Officer, Mrs Madinat Adigun-Oladotun, Ibrahim made the call at the third edition of the association’s Business and Investment Forum held in Guangzhou, China, on Monday.

The forum attracted a significant turnout of Chinese investors and business executives from diverse sectors, including agribusiness, mining and mineral processing, pharmaceuticals, automotive, renewable energy and manufacturing, among others.

The high-level event, organised by NACCIMA in collaboration with the China Chamber of International Commerce, the Consulate General of Nigeria in Guangzhou, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Window of Canton, was held on the sidelines of the 140th Canton Fair.

“The forum also attracted top business executives and public sector leaders in Nigeria, who pitched various projects, ideas and investment-ready proposals to the Chinese delegation for partnerships and execution,” the statement added.

Addressing participants at the forum, NACCIMA National President, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, called on Chinese investors to expand their business interests in Nigeria, increase investments and explore mutually beneficial partnerships.

“Across China, there is a famous saying that if you want to get rich, first build the road. Nigeria and China have built the road. We have walked together for 55 years. Let us measure the next chapter not in memoranda signed, but in many more factories opened, jobs created, and containers sailing from Lagos to Guangzhou,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim added that the Nigerian economy was now steadier and more stable, stressing that Nigeria presented a market of over 200 million people, which also extended to about 1.3 billion people in the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The NACCIMA president emphasised that Nigeria was naturally the gateway to Africa.

He called for investments and partnerships in Nigeria’s energy, minerals, agriculture, digital and health sectors, saying NACCIMA was ever ready to offer guidance and facilitation services.

Earlier, in her opening remarks, the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Guangzhou, Amb. Mairo Abbas, said the potential of the relationship between Nigeria and China had been largely untapped.

“Our objective is to move beyond conventional trade, which is largely characterised by the exchange of finished products, towards a more productive partnership driven by investment, local manufacturing, technology transfer, industrial development and job creation. This is particularly important as Nigeria pursues economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu, aimed at diversifying the economy, strengthening domestic production, expanding exports and creating an enabling environment for private-sector investment,” she said.

Abbas said the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Guangzhou remained committed to promoting economic diplomacy, facilitating trade and investment, and strengthening institutional relationships between Nigerian and Chinese businesses within its jurisdiction.

“We will continue to work closely with NACCIMA, CCPIT, CCOIC, Window of Canton and other relevant institutions to facilitate business introductions, identify investment opportunities and provide appropriate guidance to Chinese investors interested in Nigeria. We equally encourage Nigerian businesses to utilise the Consulate as a platform for exploring opportunities within our jurisdiction in China.”

The Vice President of CCPIT Guangzhou, Huang Xiaofeng, welcomed the Nigerian delegation to China, restating their commitment to partnering with NACCIMA and the Nigerian Consulate in Guangzhou to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.

He recalled that an MoU had already been signed with NACCIMA to sustain the B2B event for greater impact.