THE Maiden Polish-Nigeria Business and Investment Summit (PONBIS) which is expected to abolish and break the mental wall that had blocked the flow of investment between Nigeria and Poland will hold in Poznan, Poland between 25th and 26th of September, this year.
The summits will also deliberate extensively on how to abolish third-party intervention in favour of free flow of social and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has therefore reiterated his administration’s commitment to give all the required support through the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), just as he urged the organisers of the summit from Poland to make Abuja the hub for Polish investment in West Africa.
Speaking while playing host to the organisers of the PONBIS in his office in Abuja during a courtesy visit, the minister expressed concern that the commercial relationship between Nigeria and Poland has been so skeletal even though the country was one of the fastest growing economies in Europe today.
He cited Poland’s proficiency in the construction and heavy steel industries, saying “I think this is the right time for you to come fully into Nigeria because the government is serious about encouraging trade between Nigeria and countries like yours.
“I am therefore very happy that you are already liaising with the NIPC, which is the right organisation for you to deal with because they have the expertise”, he added.
He unveiled the various investment opportunities in the medical field especially in equipment and medical diagnostic services, advising that Poland should facilitate cultural exchanges between them and Nigeria.
“Educational exchanges between lecturers and students. You can encourage your scholars to come here on sabbatical leaves, maybe to undertake some aspects of their studies,” the minister stressed.
He informed the visitors that the Abuja’s International Airport right now operates four international flights to Europe, namely France, Britain, as well as Germany and Istanbul.
Malam Bello invited Polish companies to come into Nigeria and to take necessary steps to generate the needed awareness especially by establishing a trade office Abuja in conjunction with the NIPC, urging the commercial department of the Polish Embassy to create forums for the enlightenment of interested Nigerian businessmen on Polish businesses.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation who is also a member of Polish Parliament, Dr Piotr Uruski, said the team was in FCT to invite the administration to the summit scheduled in Poznan, Poland.
Dr Uruski stated that he would want the FCT minister to address the Polish parliament and meet with the Poznan Marshall (equivalent of a Governor in Nigeria) towards establishing mutual cooperation and trade promotion.
Also speaking, the facilitator of the tour, Dr Okechukwu Nwafor who is also the Director of Centre for Polish and African Affairs, Poznan University of Communication and Management pointed out that Nigerdock which built Nigeria’s major dockyard was a Polish company and Piwa which at a time was the maker of Nigeria’s preferred football brands.
He said the Polish businessmen and corporations were eager to move Polish businesses in Nigeria beyond buying and selling to manufacturing and technological collaboration.
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