25 companies from the Republic of Finland are in Nigeria to seek business and investment opportunities even as the Scandinavian country strengthens bilateral ties with Nigeria. Finland’s Minister of Foreign Trade & Development, Kai Mykkanen, disclosed this when he led a delegation of the 25 companies for a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama on Thursday in Abuja.
The Finnish minister said he was in the country with the large business delegation to meet various ministries in the country, stressing that he was privileged to witness Wednesday’s agreement between his country and Nigeria on solar energy of about 75 megawatts provided by Finnish technology in Nigeria.
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Mykkanen also said the Finnish companies have projects in the education and other sectors where they were cooperating with the country, even as he expressed hope that the cooperation would be enlarged, especially, in the training of teachers and consultancy. He also said several initiatives have been put in place in the area of health, saying that fruitful discussions took place with the Ministry of Health as a way of achieving the objectives.
“I very much appreciate the possibility also to meet with you, Honourable Minister. I know that my colleague, the Minister of Transportation, met with you a few months ago, in June actually. “We see Nigeria as a strategic partner. Here in the African region, you are the engine of the continent in many ways: the largest in population, largest in the economy and also, that you have huge prospective in front of you,” Mykkanen said.
Mykkanen said further that one field that is important to Finland is the development policy which he is in charge of, besides trade, adding that his country’s first priority in that regard was girls and women’s issues, sexual reproductive health and rights. He stressed that the delegation earlier visited a clinic supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
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“When it comes to maternal services and giving birth and family planning services, hopefully, we can help you through UNFPA,” Mykkanen added. Responding, Onyeama expressed hope that the partnerships of both sides can add value to the relations between Finland and Nigeria.
Onyeama said in the area of transportation, the Federal Government was investing a lot in the budget by building transport infrastructure, especially railway and also, air transportation. “I think it is very good that we look at opportunities and strategic partnerships. Communications also is another area that is extremely important across horizontally for us.”Finland is particularly strong in that area and we look forward to partner with you and in fact, have knowledge transfer and investment possibility,” Onyeama said.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
