By Palma Ileye
As the first Abuja Investment Summit and Expo 2023 gets underway, from Tuesday 14th to Wednesday 15th November, 2023 at the Velodrome, Package ‘A’, M.K.O. Abiola National Stadium – Abuja, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite is expected to lead Federal Ministries, Departments Agencies, and in particular, Agencies under her purview at the Summit to brainstorm on critical industry, trade and investment matters for the economic growth and development of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, and Nigeria as a whole.
According to a press release issued by Ahmed Mohammed Sule, Director, Communications, the event with the theme: “Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Abuja”, the Federal Capital Territory, Anete as the focal point of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the industrial, trade and business growth of the national economy, will be Guest Speaker on Key thematic topic, with panel members drawn from Agencies under her watch and experts from the private sector discuss on the various sub-themes of the Summit and Expo.
The statement disclosed that Critical thematic areas of focus at the Summit includes; Opportunities for Business Growth and Sustainable Development in Nigeria; Light Manufacturing and Industrialization – Critical to Industrial Evolution in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Public Private Partnership in Infrastructural Development and Economic Growth of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Accessing Global Investment Opportunities among others.
It stated that the Abuja Investment Summit and Expo is public–private sector driven, and it is a collaboration between the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Economic Planning Revenue Generation and Public Private Partnership Secretariat and the Abuja Investment Company Limited, all of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, while TDF Consultants Ltd are coordinating Consortium for the Annual event.
Also, Ozrganizers cited Abuja as one of the fastest growing cities in Africa and is continuously recording massive inflow of people from all walks of life, but has not been able to explore its economic potentials to overcome the developmental challenges in its efforts to meet the numerous needs of the inhabitants, noting that the Abuja Investment Summit and Expo therefore, is an avenue that offers both local and foreign investors the window to leverage on the vast business and investment potentials that abound within the territory for accelerated economic growth and development of the city.
“Created to be the largest international gathering, bringing together over 1,500 business leaders, high level investors, top notch-policy makers in Nigeria, Africa and around the World, the Abuja Investment Summit and Expo is an all-inclusive interactive discourse event aimed at stimulating deals and transactions across the untapped investment opportunities in the Federal Capital Territory with the collaborative participation and involvements of relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies on the one hand, and Trade Groups, Associations and the Chambers of Commerce on the other.
“The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments who will be leading a number of parastatals in the Summit-Discourse centred on Business Growth and Sustainable Development having the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council as discussants; Light Manufacturing and Industrialization will see the Bank of Industry leading panel members to shed more lights.
“Others are the topic on Free Trade Zones which will see the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority presents the Lead Paper, and to discuss the importance of Skills Development in industry service delivery will have the Industrial Training Fund leading panelists on the discussion podium.
“The Abuja Investment Summit and Expo 2023 is coming on the heels of and in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which seeks to breath fresh hope and lasting life in all developmental sectors of the country that will place it on a high pedestal of socio-economic growth for a purposeful and positive dynamic impact on the lives of the people through the institutionalization of a resilient and sustainable economic base that will benefit the present and future generations of our dear country, Nigeria,” the statement revealed.