This was let out yesterday in Abuja when a 16-man delegation
from Russia, representing different companies during a Nigerian-Russian
business meeting at the instance of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(ACCI) in collaboration with NACCIMA, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Russia
(NIDO) and the Nigerian Embassy in Russia.
Mr Ivan Klevtsov, leader of the delegation and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of Metalwork, a Russian based production and
engineering company, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said they were
interested in exploring the demand of Nigeria market and developing the market
enterprise.
Arears of interest by the companies include oil and gas,
mineral development, security and financing technology.
According to him, the plan is to create a service centre for
Russian manufacturers.
“People can easily maintain products made by Russian
companies and Nigerian companies producing similar products.
“ We have plan to open station for technical support for
production in Nigeria and this will cut down the importation of equipment
parts,’’ he said.
Earlier, Nigerian Ambassador to the Russian Republic, Prof.
Abdullahi Shehu, said that Russia had a lot of potential for Africa.
“The challenges therefore is for Russia to understand
Africa, to open up and be ready to do business with Africa.
He encouraged the private sector to be actively engaged in
businesses and establish networks with the business community, adding that it
would enhance the trade volume.
“I don’t want to sound as if we are not satisfied with the
trade volume because two years ago, it was less than $300 million and for us to
reach $ 600 million despite the impact of COVID-19, it is a significant
progress.
“We commend ourselves, but there is room for improvement and
that is why we are holding this meeting here today,’’ Shehu said.
Mr Jani Ibrahim, 2nd Deputy President of Nigerian
Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA)
said that the meeting would further deepen the bilateral relations of both
countries for inclusive economic growth.
According to Ibrahim, NACCIMA assures you that the private
sector of Nigeria is committed to partnering the private sector of Russia which
is targeted at increasing our trade volumes.
“NACCIMA recommends that Nigeria and Russia needs to move
their bilateral relations to a new level, a functional cooperation, a key and
strategic economic samples, so as to increase both quantity and the quality of
trade and investments,’’ Ibrahim said.
In his address at the occasion, Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar,
President of ACCI, stressed that Nigeria needed Russian technology to boost
industrialization in the country.
Represented by Victoria Akai, Director General of ACCI,
Abubakar said that Russia also needs Nigeria as a market for its industrial
products and military equipment.
“There is weak indication that the two countries have
sufficient and adequate perception of each other. This, in part, is responsible
for the lack of the political will to implement the existing bilateral
agreements,’’ Abubakar said
He emphasised that the commitment by both countries to
deepen bilateral trade would boost the trade volume significantly.
“Although, the trade volume between Nigeria and Russia is
still low, about less a billion dollars, but as both countries have reaffirmed
commitment to boosting the trade volume significantly, it is an opportunity to
expand our trade volumes.
“Nigeria is an economic powerhouse in the West African
region and one of Africa’s fastest growing economies and the country with the
largest population as estimated by the World Trade Organisation.
“Nigeria has an estimated current total export of over 53
billion USD and imports of over 47 billion USD with an average GDP of USD 448
billion as estimated in the first quarter of 2021,’’ he said.
Mr Uwem Samson, Chairman NIDO-Russia, said that the business
meeting would enable the delegation know Nigeria more, adding that they would
expose their findings to the larger business community in Russia.
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