- Nigeria is thriving investment destination – Polish Ambassador
BY COBHAM NSA – The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) has assured Polish investors of a safe and thriving operating environment to conduct their businesses in Nigeria.
This is against the backdrop of the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Joanna Tarnawska, describing Nigeria as a thriving investment destination with huge potential for her country’s business concerns to explore.
Acting Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NIPC, Mr Emeka Offor, who gave the assurance during a visit to the Polish Embassy in Abuja on Friday, said the Commission is prepared to handhold potential investors from Poland and ensure they are in safe hands.
Offor also assured the Ambassador of NIPC’s support in building awareness and improving investment relations between both countries, particularly when it comes to ascertaining the credibility of companies in the country.
Highlighting the Commission’s offerings to foreign investors, Offor said; “What we always suggest is that prospective investors talk to NIPC first so that we can handhold them – take them through the process.
“If there are needs to take them to attend certain meetings – with regulators, other government agencies or State Governors, we will willingly handhold them and ensure that they are in safe hands.”
According to him, in line with Nigeria’s e-government initiative, NIPC launched an e-OSIC platform – https://swip.nipc.gov.ng/ which grants access to NIPC’s one-stop-shop remotely, to further ease doing business in Nigeria.
Speaking during the visit, Ambassador Joanna Tarnawska expressed interest in identifying areas of cooperation with the Commission to boost the interests of Polish investors in the country.
In describing Nigeria as a thriving investment destination, she however noted that there is a negative perception of Nigeria by foreign media as well as the minimal presence of Polish investors in Nigeria.
Tarnawska, who indicated that Polish investors are facing the challenge of identifying credible companies to collaborate with within Nigeria, said; “Nigeria is a favourable place in general for business and other forms of activities, but Polish investors simply do not know how and where to start.”
The NIPC had in 2017 taken a lead role in pitching Nigeria’s investment prospects at the Polish-Nigeria Trade and Investment Forum in Poznan and at the Polish National Assembly.
The event, organised in partnership with the Centre for Polish and African Affairs of the Poznan University of Communication and Management and Polish – Nigeria Trade & Investment Forum (PONTIF), was set up to increase bilateral trade and investment between both countries.
The outcome was the visit to Nigeria by some Polish investors to pursue business interests and Ambassador Tarnawska has committed to a formal visit to NIPC in February, as part of efforts to firm up details on improving the trade and investment relationship between Nigeria and Poland.
