US Chamber of Commerce Hosts Nigerian Trade Minister, Both Agree to Work Together

Wed, Feb 15, 2017 | By publisher


Business

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THE United States Chamber of Commerce’s US-Africa Business Center, Tuesday, February 14, hosted Okechukwu Enelamah, the Nigerian minister of Industry, Trade and Investment for a roundtable discussion with US business executives at their office in Washington, D.C.

The conversation focused on enhancing trade and investment relationship between both countries.

This comes in the context of a telephone call between President Muhammadu Buhari and President Donald Trump Monday, February 13, where both presidents discussed security and economic issues. It is seen as suggesting the US consideration of Nigeria as a strategic partner.

“The US has historically been one of Nigeria’s top trading partners; it was the biggest importer of Nigeria’s crude oil at some point. In the last five years, however, the sharp decline in U.S. imports of our crude, on account of rising domestic production of shale, has altered the trade balance between our two countries. This development presents Nigeria with a good opportunity for diversification and to explore and increase non-oil export – especially in agricultural products, services and the digital economy,” Enelamah said.

On his part, Scott Eisner, president of the US-Africa Business Center and Vice President for African Affairs at the Chamber stated that “With the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria is an important partner for U.S. businesses. Our conversation highlighted the work being done to strengthen the economic relationship between our two countries and how we can continue to build on this relationship.”

Enelamah also participated in a Facebook Live conversation with the US-Africa Business Center following the roundtable. Some of the companies that attended the gathering included Google, Microsoft, Blackstone, Procter and Gamble, UPS, Johnson and Johnson, Boston Scientific, Philip Morris International, Lekoil Oil, ITIC, etc.

The US Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

Its International Affairs division includes more than 70 regional and policy experts and 25 country-and region-specific business councils and initiatives. The US Chamber also works closely with 117 American Chambers of Commerce abroad. The US-Africa Business Center is the preeminent voice in the global business community advocating for increased trade between the US and Africa.

After the roundtable, the minister went on to attend events focusing on the Ease of Doing Business and Investment at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS, and the Hudson Institute. He answered questions from a mixed audience of business executives, government officials, diplomats and others.

He similarly had meetings at the State Department with Linda Thomas Greenfield,  outgoing assistant secretary of state for African Affairs and US Trade Representatives for Africa at the Commerce office.

Issues on the agenda at the state department ranged from the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, SMEs, Nigeria’s leadership on the Continent and continued engagement with the new administration, while the commerce office focused on trade and the WTO.

Enelamah was accompanied by Chiedu Osakwe, an ambassador and his Trade adviser and chief negotiator, Bunmi Adeoye, special adviser and Constance C. Ikokwu, strategic communications adviser.

—  Feb 15, 2017 @ 18:12 GMT

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