By Chinwendu Obienyi
To enhance trade relations, investment and to promote Nigerian the interest of business community the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lagos on Wednesday, President, LCCI, Nike Akande, said the promotion of mutual trade and investment between Nigeria and Japan is needed to ensure the synergy between the two countries is strengthened.
“Over the last few years, LCCI has emerged the leading voice of the private sector through a sustained public policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, trade promotion activities both locally and internationally”
“It is therefore in this regard that both the LCCI and JETRO have deemed it worthy to have a formal agreement of collaboration so as to enhance trade relation and investment which will add economic guide to both countries. I believe that this collaboration will further strengthen the synergy between the two organisations as well as Nigeria and Japan”, She said.
Akande thereafter reiterated that the LCCI will continue to promote and protect the interest of its members and the business community at large through trade policy advocacy, creation and facilitation of commercial and industrial opportunities, provision of business services and standard business ethics.
For his part, the Executive Vice President, JETRO, Katsumi Hirano, said Japanese companies are giving more focus on business in Africa, adding that Japan is interested in helping the Nigerian economy which is driven by the private sector.
His words, “We notice that the Nigerian government aims to achieve a private sector driven economy under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. The collaboration between our organizations is on the same track of what the Nigerian government has been pursuing and Japan is interested in where the Nigerian economy goes as well as the role of the LCCI in the economy driven by private sector.”
Hirano expressed assurance that the collaboration will further strengthen the relationship between the LCCI and JETRO.
