By Ozaveshi Ofei
The President of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah on Sunday in Durban, South Africa, acknowledged that Nigeria is an important market for the bank with a cumulative business exposure of $8.8 billion.
He informed President Muhammadu Buhari, in Durban, South Africa, ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2nd Intra-African Trade Fair Conference, that it was therefore imperative that the bank will continue to engage Nigeria at the highest level.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government and Afreximbank are finetuning framework to build Africa Medical Centre of Excellence project to be implemented by the continental bank in Abuja in December.
Oramah, appreciated the Nigerian leader for granting the land for the planned ground-breaking ceremony before the end of the year.
He added that Nigerian businesses got deals worth over $3.3 billion during the first edition of the event in Cairo, Egypt, adding that more is expected at this year’s fair with an assurance that Afreximbank would be ready to support such business deals emanating from the event “especially considering the support we have seen from the President.”
President Buhari, has assured that the Nigerian government will continue to support efforts to broaden the economy through multilateral financing.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement, said the President spoke when Oramah, paid him a courtesy call ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2nd Intra-African Trade Fair Conference in Durban, South African city.
“I appreciate the support you are giving Nigerian businesses and by implication, the Nigerian economy. Rest assured you can count on me as you seek a better trade and investment climate in Africa.” Buhari said.
The President of the bank who came in company of the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, thanked Buhari for honouring the invitation of the South African President to attend the Afreximbank-backed Fair, joining other Heads of State, saying it clearly demonstrated that “President Buhari understands the importance of trade and how Intra-African trade can help transform the African economy and of course, that of Nigeria.”
He also appreciated the Nigerian leader for granting the land and accepting to grace the occasion of the ground-breaking ceremony of the Africa Medical Centre of Excellence project to be implemented by the continental bank in Abuja in December.
He said Nigerian businesses got deals worth over $3.3 billion during the first edition of the event in Cairo, Egypt, adding that more is expected at this year’s Fair with an assurance that Afreximbank would be ready to support such business deals emanating from the event “especially considering the support we have seen from the President.”
According to him: “Nigeria’s participation was essential as the largest economy in Africa. Africa needs Nigeria as Nigeria needs Africa. Anything we do at the continental level that does not have Nigeria is seen globally as incomplete.”