NBCC to strengthen Nigeria-Belgium business relations

As part of the ways to celebrate the inauguration of the new board of the Nigerian Belgian Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), the Chamber has also formed the Nigerian-Belgian business club, a parallel body that will equally support the activities and objectives of the Chamber.

This will help further promote mutual business interest between Belgium and Nigeria and bring to bear areas of strengths that can be leveraged upon by the business communities of both nations.

Speaking during the inauguration of new board members, Tunde Okoya, president of the Nigerian Belgian Chamber of Commerce, said there are similarities between these two nations, the most obvious being Belgium’s role as the gateway to Europe and Nigeria, has now become the gateway to Africa by virtue of its being the largest economy on the continent.

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While explaining the chamber’s action plans, Okoya noted that for starters, it is the intention of the chamber to have a breakfast meeting every two months at the Signature Hotel to discuss topical issues of the day that will have an impact in the economy, thereby having a platform for the exchange of ideas.

Okoya further explained that as board members, they have the opportunity to visit several Belgian companies operating in Nigeria for decades so they can begin to understand the impact they are making in the real economy especially in terms of creating employment and adding real value, adding that  such companies includes Presco oil, Nigerite, Okomu Oil, Dredging International, amongst others.

“One of our key objectives is to also organise a trade mission to visit Belgium twice a year with one of the foremost destinations being Port of Antwerp. I understand that most of the crude oil shipped out of Nigeria goes through this strategic point in Europe and the rest of the world. We intend to see how we can benefit from the expertise in terms of maritime training and development to strengthen our domestic capacities,” he revealed.

The new members of the Chamber include, Abdullahi Sanni, vice president of the Chamber from Abais Law Firm; Rabi Aliyu, director, Maharaz General Services; Immanuel Emoife, CEO Port Plus Ltd; Frank Ejizu, general manager of Samsung Heavy Industries; Ugo Nwabuisi, CEO, 151 Products Ltd.

Others include Femi Tejuosho, executive vice chairman of Trifant Resources; Oliver Thiry, managing director, Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, Sadiq Usman, head, corporate business development Flour Mills and Bert Willie, country manager of Dredging International Services Nigeria Ltd.

Ejizu said the chamber has to be strengthened so that there can proper relationship between Nigeria businessmen and other Belgium business men, adding that he joined the chamber in order to help create that synergy between the both countries.

“There are quite a few Belgium companies but they are just in isolation but if we have a chamber like this, there will be need for us to create events like trade fairs and trade forums, where Belgian companies will come to Nigeria and showcase their businesses and Nigerians will be able to showcase their businesses too,” Ejizu said.

He explained that because of what most companies hear about Nigeria, they are scared to come to Nigeria the platform like will make them know that Nigeria is safe for business and if government can create a good environment for them, they will trade with Nigerians.

According to him, “The benefits we derive from this chamber is networking, we meet a lot of directors from different companies and when you discuss with them, it gives you an opportunity to expand your own scope of doing business.”