WEF: Jonathan woos investors, says Nigeria's fertile ground for business

President Goodluck Jonathan has invited investors to come to Nigeria and take advantage of the numerous opportunities that exist in the country.

Jonathan  expressed the government's readiness to collaborate with foreign investors, saying that the Nigerian economy is a very fertile ground for investors especially with ongoing programmes and initiatives of the government.

According to him,  government's policies, aimed at boosting the economy, have  helped businesses to flourish in the nation that had been listed among the next world economic powers - Mexico, Indonesia, and Turkey (MINT).

After a Wednesday session on 'Africa's Next Billion' at the ongoing World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos-Klosters Switzerland, President Jonathan spoke on current policies in the industrial sector which he said would be consolidated on.

President Jonathan believes the World Economic Forum on Africa that would be hosted by Nigeria would expose the enormous opportunities in Nigeria's business environment.

He said that the backward integration policy of the government had helped the Daogote Group boost its cement production.

'Three years back, we were a net importer of cement. We were producing only 2 million metric tonnes of cement, with a demand level of 18 million metric tonnes of cement.

'Now we are producing above 20 million metric tonnes over a three years programme because of the government policies. We are creating similar programme in terms of rice and sugar,' the president said.

'Nigeria would expose the Nigerian business environment to the world and equally expose the rest of Africa at the World Economic Forum on Africa,' he stressed.

Jonathan also led other Nigerian delegates at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland to host the rest of the world's delegates to an 'Evening of Good Cheers' with the Nigerian Community.

The event which had most of the guests wearing the Nigerian green-white-green scarf to commemorate the country's centenary, had in attendance, presidents of nations, business leaders, civil society and other delegates in attendance.

Nigerian Billionaire and Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, while introducing the Nigerian President, referred to him as the 'President of the private sector and the masses' because he had been 'delivering on democratic dividends and is also laying the foundation on which a lot of Nigerians have benefitted from, which is called economic revolution.'

President Jonathan in his welcome address thanked the guests for taking time out to be at the evening of fun and high end networking.

He also expressed his excitement about the opportunity to host the global gathering of the world's business and government leaders in Abuja, Nigeria, from May 7 - 9, 2014 for the World Economic Forum Africa.

He noted that the event would present the country with the opportunity to show its economic potentials to the business world, and to tell the world that Nigeria and indeed Africa is open for business.

While reminding them of Nigeria's status as one of the most attractive business resorts and also one of the fastest growing economies in the world, he also acknowledged the opportunity that the May 2014 event provides Nigeria to showcase its rich culture and tourism potentials.

Referring to the gathering as one of 'authentic Nigerian experience', he declared, 'Nigeria is proud to be your host on this special night of 'Ariya' and good cheers.'

The Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Professor Klaus Schwab, and his wife, Hilde Schwab, were present at the event.