Photo Caption
Representative from the Department of States Coordination at NIPC, Ibrahim Bage (left); Deputy Head of Office at UNIDO ITPO Germany, Michael Shmidt; Chief Executive Officer of Nigerdock, Maher Jarmakani<br; and Head of Southwest Zonal Office at NIPC, Hassan Lawal during a visit to Nigerdock in Lagos.
In order to drive the development of sustainable foreign direct investments (FDIs) and facilitate the domiciliation of European enterprises in the country,
Nigerdock has collaborated with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC).
This was disclosed when Nigerdock hosted in its Lagos office, a delegation from UNIDO with representatives of 23 companies and officials of NIPC, who explored collaboration on domiciling investments that specialise in renewable energy, green technologies, and agribusiness.
The Chief Executive Officer of Nigerdock, Maher Jarmakani, said the multilateral collaboration being coordinated by UNIDO via the Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO) Germany and NIPC, represents a significant step towards strengthening the partnership between private sector companies in Nigeria and Europe.
According to him, the company’s long-term commitment to Nigeria’s economic empowerment aligns perfectly with the goals of this mission, with a firm belief that the collaboration will contribute to industrialisation, foreign direct investment, job creation, and increased adoption of green practices in the country.
Jarmakani said Nigerdock has a laudable extensive relationship with global firms and a longstanding commitment to Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic development through investments in maritime and logistics infrastructure, sustainable projects, and clean energy initiatives.
He said the company projects its Snake Island Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ) as a strategically located economic development area and industrial hub, providing environmentally sustainable, energy-efficient and cost-congenial setting for global businesses that target Africa’s fastest-growing markets.
Jarmakani also noted that the companies that formed the Private Sector Mission (PSM) followed the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz’s visit to Nigeria, indicating a close relationship between Nigeria and Germany and underscored by the potential for greater cooperation and investment between the two countries.
He said the companies also specialise in sustainable packaging, circular economy, and waste management. On his part, the Deputy Head of Office, UNIDO ITPO Germany, Michael Schmidt, said ITPO Germany is an integral part of the UNIDO that mobilises and supports technology transfer, private sector investments and industrial cooperation with developing countries for sustainable, private sector-led economic development.
He said UNIDO is dedicated to industrial park development in developing countries and economies in transition, with a specific focus on result efficiency and input for eco-industrial parks.
Schmidt said the organisation’s objectives and Nigerdock’s infrastructure goals present a valuable opportunity for cross-collaboration as it looks forward to further engagement regarding these initiatives.
He said Germany is seeking to invest across a variety of sectors, ranging from infrastructure and energy to agriculture business, mineral resources, information and communication technologies, transport, and logistics. Schmidt said Nigeria was Germany’s second-largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, with direct German investments amounting to $158 million in 2021.
