Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, has called on the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JIAC) to woo Japanese investors to Nigeria.
Bagudu spoke during a courtesy call on him by the new Chief Representative of JICA in Nigeria, Mr. Ishigame Keiji, who replaces Mr. Yuzurio Susumu, after serving as the Chief Representative JICA in Nigeria for three years and six months.
According to the Minister, “We desire investors to come into Nigeria as we are eager to have your support in growing the private sector.
"We have stabilized the macro economy. We have the foundation that can support more private sector activity that can boost trade and production”.
The new Chief Rep, Keiji, noted that Nigeria is an important country with a dynamic economy that has a lot of potential. He informed the minister that plans are underway to expand work in Nigeria and Japan as a country was willing to assist Nigeria to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The outgoing Rep, Susumu, expressed pleasure working with the Nigerian government and promised to facilitate and expand the work on the projects in Nigeria as he returns to the headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
Earlier, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, stated that JICA/Japan has a long-standing relationship with Nigeria and appreciated Japan’s support for education, health, infrastructure, peace building, and power.
JICA has supported projects in Nigeria focused on improving the quality of life and fostering economic growth, with recent efforts including a partnership to build an innovation hub and a $238 million power deal for infrastructure upgrades and training programs. Past initiatives have included work in basic education, health (malaria control), and developing the agricultural sector.
