NIGERIA-BRAZIL INVESTORS FORUM HELD IN BELO HORIZONTE FROM JUNE, 2011

The Nigeria-Brazil Investors Forum organized by the Nigeria-Brazil Centre for Business Inc., was held in Belo Horizonte from 14th-16th June, 2011. The aim of the Forum was to complement the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and to project the good image of Nigeria and Nigerians.

The Investors Forum was attended by business and government personalities from Nigeria and these include Mr. Shex O. Ladipo, the Managing Director of Lisabi Mills Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Patrick Esho, the Managing Director of Stanley Greenfield Ltd., Mr. Alani Obafemi Sunmonu of the Lagos State Local Government Commission, Honourable Tunde Ade Braimoh, the Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure to the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government of Lagos State as well as Otunba Adedayo Bodunrin, the honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry of Ekiti State of Nigeria.

The Embassy of Nigeria in Brasilia, Brazil, was represented by Mr. O.I. Iginla, Minister and Head of Chancery at the Embassy. During the Forum, Mr. O.I. Iginla delivered a paper on the state of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Brazil which can be described as excellent. He especially emphasized the need to urgently fast-track the re-establishment of direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil in order to further increase and cement the economic relations between the two countries. He described as most inconvenient and tedious, the current situation whereby flights from Nigeria to Brazil take two days and vice-versa. The Minister and Head of Chancery also gave a speech on the cultural affinities and relations between Nigeria and Brazil which originated from the slave trade era and which is still very obvious in the city of Salvador in the north-east of Brazil.

The participants at the Forum were also hosted by the State Government of Minas Geiras and they met with Ms. Dorothea Werneck of the State Secretariat for Economic Development and Mr. Silvio Soares, the President of the State Council of International Affairs. The Forum participants also visited the complex of the Grupo BMG where they had meetings with the President of the Group and Mr. Jair Palma Araujo, the Advisor to the Presidency of BMG.

The Nigeria-Brazil Investors Forum, which can be described as successful and well-organized by the Nigeria-Brazil Centre for Business Inc. headed by Mr. Michael Olusegun Akinruli, ended on Thursday, 16th June, 2011.

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