Expansion and strengthening of bilateral business ties between Nigerian and Russian companies, presenting new markets, features and prospects of conducting business in diverse domains, sectors and areas of commerce was the goal of the Conference "Entering African markets. Nigeria as a window to Africa".
Opening the Conference, the Vice-President of the Union "Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry”, Mr. Suren Vardanyan recalled that "the event was being prepared for quite a long time.” He said that business missions were carried out, many meetings and contests were held and after the removal of restrictions, an extensive business mission to Nigeria "to return the Russian business to the market of Africa" is planned. He said that the MCCI is paying increased attention to the promotion of Russian companies and their cooperation with African companies: "We see Nigeria as one of the most interesting countries with great potential. We consider Nigeria as a platform from which our companies can move to other African countries.
The co-moderator of the event, the President of the NIDO Russia (Regional Public Organization for the Promotion of Cultural, Economic and Spiritual ties of the expats from Nigeria - NIDO). Mr. Uvem Sampson, reminded that the Conference aims to strengthen cooperation between Russian and Nigerian companies, and "to identify points of contact.”
Ms. Mercy Haruna, the Deputy Head of the Economic, Trade and Investment Mission, said Nigeria has opportunities for cooperation in various fields: agriculture, energy, infrastructural projects; gas and mineral extraction are relevant. "Nigeria is a rich country that now boasts the most developed market in Africa," Ms. Haruna said.
Mr. Valery Vozdvizhensky, the Executive Director of the Russian-Nigerian Business Council, spoke briefly about the Council's history and work. "I hope that after this event, we will achieve collaboration despite any pandemics!" - said Valery Vozdvizhensky. He also expressed confidence in the need for "reciprocal mutual presence in the market."
The NIDO’s EU President, Dr. Bashir Obasekola, said: "We speak your language and understand your culture. Many of us have studied in Russia and have learned much. So, you can easily interact with us. I look forward to working with you."
Mr. Sergey Nosov, the Director of Asia, Africa and Latin America Department of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, stressed that Nigeria is one of the key and most promising partners in the African region, but "the current level of bilateral trade and economic relations is still far from the potential that is there." He added that Russia supplies steel products, fertilisers and grain to Nigeria, but this is "only the beginning of the road to putting bilateral trade and economic ties on a stable, long-term basis. He called the participation of Russian specialists in the flagship project to launch a large metallurgical plant in Nigeria an example of such cooperation.
Ms. Victoria Akai, the General Director of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke about the prospects of the Nigerian market for Russian business.
The General Director of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Ayoola Olukanni confirmed "the avid desire of Nigerian entrepreneurs to promote relations with Russia, especially in the private sector.”
Mr. Boris Igoshin, the Advisor to the General Director of the ANO “Mosprom”, described the “Mosprom” Export Support Center, which "is focused on two main areas - industrial and agrarian sectors. "What makes us different from other export support institutions is that our approach to working with each company is strictly specific,” Mr. Igoshin said. "We also see Nigeria as a window to Africa, especially given the fruitful cooperation over a long period of time," he said in his statement.
The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Lagos, Ms. Toki Mabogunje, told about the peculiarities of doing business with the Nigerian partners.
The Vice-President of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ms., Ekaterina Lebedeva spoke about bilateral economic cooperation between St. Petersburg and Nigeria.
The Managing Director of VTB Bank, Mr. Mikhail Konovalov, spoke about International currency transactions of VTB.
Mr. Daniil Kupreev, the Head of State Support of REC JSC, spoke about the main areas of economic cooperation, banking instruments and insurance.
Representatives of certification administration of NAFDAC, Messrs. Declan Ugwu and Olalekan Omonili, spoke in detail about certification and licensing of Russian products on the Nigerian market.
In his presentation, the Director of the TVC (Trade and Exhibition Centre) of Nigeria, Mr. Benjamin Eni, spoke about the placement of samples of finished products from Russian producers and their promotion in the local market.
And Mr. Alexander Zakharov, the Sales Director of “runitrade.online", in his turn, explained how current requests for buying and demonstration samples of Nigerian and Russian producers' products are placed on the online trading platform.