France Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gauer, and the South Africa Consul General, Ambassador Mokgethi Monaisa, Wednesday paid separate courtesy visits to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with the duo indicating the interest of their countries to increase their economic presence in the state.
Gauer, who was joined by the Consulate General of France and Head of Mission, Marcel Escure; Head of Regional Economic Department, Dominique Simon, and the Commercial Counsellor, Head of Regional Economic Department in Lagos, Mr. Francis Widmer, said that France is interested in Lagos as it is the economic capital of Nigeria as well as West Africa.
He said that more French companies are considering establishing their presence in Lagos as well as partner with the state government on infrastructural development. According to him, “The French community in Nigeria, the greatest part of it is in Lagos not in Abuja and especially our companies are all present here in Lagos. We have more than 50 offices of big French companies all established here in Lagos and more are coming”.
He said that the French Development Company is currently partnering with the state in the financing of certain projects as they relate to city planning, public transportation and waste management while it hopes to expand the scope in the nearest future.
Responding, Governor Ambode told the French envoy that Lagos is expanding its frontiers to accommodate investors willing to set up their businesses in the state, assuring that his administration will ensure that their investments are secured.
He said the state government is putting finishing touches to policies and strategies that will strengthen its economic ties with neighbouring French speaking countries within the West African region.
“I know that Lagos is also a major commerce city and we have not done enough to attract bilateral trade and relationship with most of the French speaking countries. So it gladdens my heart that the Ambassador is here today”.
“On our part, we’ve decided that we are going to expand relationship with our neighbours and other nations and that’s why we decided to set up an Office of Overseas Affairs and Investments to be able to establish once and for all a permanent structure that allows us to have good trading, economic opportunities and relationship with all our neighbours and other nations”
“I am excited that beyond the 50 companies that you have in Lagos, France is deeply interested in having more economic presence here and when we talk of economic presence, we are actually referring to Lagos. I am excited that Tafoo is planning to set up malls in Lagos as quickly as possible, I am excited that Societe General Bank is coming back and also majority of the French companies are trying to ensure that they have a place in Lagos,” the Governor said.
He assured investors coming into the state that the government will create an enabling environment for their businesses to thrive, noting that opportunities abound in the area, of public transportation and security.
Ambode who later received the Consul General of South Africa, who came to intimate him on the line up of activities to mark the birth of the late South African Icon, Dr Nelson Mandela, expressed his administration’s readiness to extend the frontiers of trade and economic relations with South Africa.
He recalled the important role Mandela played in the institutionalization of democracy in Africa saying that the South African leader was instrumental to the political emancipation through his activities of the African National Congress (ANC).
He urged African countries to draw from the heroic ideals of great men like Mandela to continue to propagate ideas of the common good.
He listed Information Communication Technology, Tourism and hospitality as well as oil and gas sectors as possible strong areas where such bi-lateral relations could be strengthened.
Speaking earlier, Ambassador Monaisa noted that South Africa-Nigeria relations have come a long way not just as trade partners but as brothers and sisters.
