China invests $7.24b in Nigeria
- Source: Xinhua
- [11:32 March 21 2010]
- Comments
The Chinese government has invested 7.24 billion US dollars in different sectors of Nigeria, according to a Chinese diplomat.
Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Abuja Rong Yansong made the announcement on Friday in southeast Enugu State in a goodwill message at the 21st Enugu International Trade Fair.
He said the investment until 2009 went to the sectors of free trade zone, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, mining and infrastructure.
Yansong said Chinese investors were still looking for opportunities to get more involved in the Nigerian economy, especially in the area of local content.
He said Chinese companies operating in Nigeria employs more than 30,000 Nigerians, contributing a lot to poverty alleviation in the country.
Yansong announced that the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) and China had signed an agreement on Industrial Products Inspection to ensure that all products exported to Nigeria were thoroughly checked.
He said the Chinese government would partner with the Enugu State government on the use of coal deposits for power generation to support local industries.
The envoy invited genuine Nigerian businessmen to the world's largest trade fair, Canton Trade Fair,to be attended by more than 2 million people all over the world.
Yansong promised that the Chinese government would sponsor Nigerian professionals and officials to different training courses in China in agriculture, manufacturing, commerce and administration.
He said 200 Nigerians had benefited from similar training programs in the past, and 300 persons for this year.
He added the first-ever Chinese industrial fair would be held in Abuja on Nov. 22-26 in collaboration with the Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
