90 German firms with $1bn turnover in Nigeria’

By Robert Egbe

The German government has said the 90 German firms in Nigeria have a turnover of $1 billion and employ over 10, 000 direct staff.

German Consul-General in Lagos Dr Stefan Traumann said these firms show the importance of bilateral trade relations between his country and Nigeria.

He spoke at the launch of the Nigerian-German Chamber of Commerce (NGCC). The chamber was founded in 1986 to promote bilateral trade between Nigeria and Germany.

NGGC President Mrs. Onyeche Tifase said the event was a launch pad for a more strategic future in the development of cultural, economic and Business relations between Nigeria and Germany.

She said: “Our mission at the NGCC is to foster trade and commerce between Nigeria and Germany, through effective stakeholder engagement and economic cooperation and our vision is to be the leading bilateral chamber of commerce promoting trade, commerce and investment opportunities between Nigeria and Germany”.

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Tifase acknowledged various challenges in the operating environment in Nigeria including dearth of skills, weak regulations, absence of competitive financing, issues at ports, poor infrastructure and bureaucracy.

A cardinal objective of the NGCC, she said, would be “enabling and advocating for a more stable and attractive business climate.

“Through various working committees, we will provide a platform to identify and address challenges across the key sectors of agriculture, education, construction, energy and industry”.

Special Guest and Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council Dr Doyin Salami lauded the NGGC for its contributions to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

Salami added: “The NGCC has an important role in building a healthier and more inclusive economy that will create sustainable value for all stakeholders”.

Attendees at the launch included Chairman of Sterling Bank Mr. Asue Ighodalo; Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Mr. Jaiyeola Laoye; Regional Director for DEG Mr. Bernd Tilemann; Managing Director of JustFood West Africa Mr Tunde Ogunrinde; and CEO of European All Freight Alhaji Babatunde Jimoh.