To support Africa’s most populous country’s shift from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy, the Netherlands government has unveiled an online solar marketplace to connect business opportunities, facilitate tailor-made networking, and interface between public and private stakeholders.
Michel Deelen, the consul general of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos in his opening remarks said the digital solar marketplace is created owing to the need to have an entry point for supply and demand.
According to him, the Nigerian solar marketplace is a key component of the Dutch’s commitment to promoting renewable energy adoption and achieving sustainable trade and development in the country.
He said several Dutch and Nigerian businesses have been showing interest in the renewable space, noting that a Dutch company has recently signed a MoU to build a factory to construct the next generation solar panels in Nigeria.
Speaking also during the launch, Bukola Lucas, policy officer for Renewable Energy at the Dutch Embassy, Lagos said the consulate has been tasked with the responsibility of developing Nigeria’s solar energy sector and also creating a sustainable trade.
Lucas noted that after launching the solar marketplace last year, it was agreed that there was a need for an online platform and a secretariat which has been established.
“We had to take time to work on the platform to have a platform where trusted businesses in the solar energy landscape could connect,” she said.
She explained that the idea of the solar marketplace is to connect the supply and demand of solar with the sector across the value chain and create an ecosystem in Nigeria.
Read also: Netherlands, partners launch solar marketplace to support Nigeria’s energy transition
“If you are looking for finance you have the opportunity to come onto the solar marketplace and access finance and also for skills and tech,” she said.
She added that the idea of the marketplace was also to create an opportunity for advocacy for Dutch businesses that were already in the system but did not know how to navigate the system and for those looking to come into Nigeria.
Speaking during a fire chat, Ingrid Thijssen, president of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO/NCW), who was a special guest of honour at the digital marketplace launch, said the confederation is the one that has to influence government policies in the Netherlands and help businesses in implementing new government rule and regulations and legislation.
Thijssen added that the confederation also tries to help Dutch entrepreneurs do business abroad, noting that the solar marketplace is an example of an instrument from the Netherlands government that helps support Dutch companies doing business here in Nigeria.
“I am extremely positive of the solar marketplace that helps bring supply, demand, and finance together,” she said.
