A delegation of Singaporean businesses has visited the minister of state for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika to express investment interest in Nigeria’s airport infrastructure concession, planned national carrier and other aspects of the country’s aviation industry.
Leader of the delegation and Director of the Middle East and Africa Group of International Enterprise Singapore, Ian Lee said they were in the country to establish their interest in building business relationships with Nigeria and Nigerian companies, especially in the aviation sector where they have identified the ongoing airport infrastructure concession and the proposed national carrier as “areas of high interest”.
Lee was said to have told the minister of Aviation that the main purpose of IE Singapore is to drive Singapore’s external economy, by growing globally competitive companies and promoting international trade to ensure Singapore’s growth in a globalized world.
“With 39 offices in over 20 countries, in addition to being based in Singapore, IE Singapore offers services to help enterprises export, develop business capabilities, find overseas markets and to enter new markets, through its Global Company Partnership and Market Readiness Assistance frameworks,” Lee said.
Noting that Nigeria represents the future of the African continent going by its political and economic stature which has placed it in the leadership position it now occupies, Lee said this has made the country highly attractive to prospective investors, especially from Singapore.
He further expressed his country’s desire to forge a better and mutually beneficial economic relationship with Nigeria.
Sirika in his response said the government is strongly committed to providing an enabling environment for investors to thrive in the aviation sector with rules and regulations to make the industry economically attractive.
He added that the quest to concession the maintenance of airport infrastructure and the building of new ones across the country was to maintain high standard and efficiency in the running of airport operations in tandem with global standards.
He expressed delight at the interest shown by International Enterprise Singapore and other Singaporean firms in Nigeria’s aviation industry and assured them of the federal government’s openness and preparedness to work with all serious minded and sincere investors who have the know-how to contribute to the nation’s development.