While he noted that Nigeria’s oil and maritime industries would particularly benefit from such a move, he said it was also crucial to the diversification of the Nigerian economy.
He said this at a breakfast meeting organised by the chamber, where business executives and diplomats spoke on factors that could move the economy forward.
At the programme that had the theme: ‘Maritime and logistics’, Okoya stated that the chamber was unique because it represented the country with the largest economy in Africa, with immense natural and human resources, while Belgium was “effectively the gateway to the European continent and serves as its administrative and political capital.”
He noted that the chamber had over 250 members consisting of Nigerian and Belgian companies that cut across various segments of the economy.
Okoya added, “Most of all the maritime traffic in and out of Nigeria is actually channelled through The Port of Antwerp; which makes The Port of Antwerp a key strategic partner to the Nigerian maritime sector, and as such, a key stakeholder in its development now and in the future. In addition, most of the crude oil shipments out of Nigeria are also refined at the Port of Antwerp.
“It is our strong desire at the chamber to deepen trade and strengthen investment links between these two nations. This will be done effectively through trade missions, conferences and workshops that will provide us the platform to showcase the vast opportunities that exist between Belgium and Nigeria.”
He, however, urged policymakers in Nigeria to consider the urgency of diversifying the economy.
[Punch]
