Mr Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston, United States of America, says he is engaging with the Nigerian government for the establishment of a Consular Office in Houston and direct flight to expand trade, relations with Nigeria.
Turner made this known while addressing some Nigerian journalists in Abuja on the outcomes of his meeting with some government ministries and business community on his business trip to Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Turner led a delegation from diverse sectors in Houston to meet with their Nigerian counterparts, to mull ways of expanding trade, investment, and bilateral relations between Nigeria and Huston.
Turner said that Houston hosts the highest number of Nigerian Diaspora in the U.S, with Nigeria and the city’s largest trading partner in Africa, hence the need to strengthen policies that would enhance the already existing relations.
The mayor said it was looking at expanding ties and businesses in aviation, agriculture, energy, maritime, technology and innovation, medical tourism, among others, to ensure an environment of certainty where businesses could thrive.
“It is about enhancing the relationship that currently exists and we are meeting with business leaders and also governmental leaders.
“Bearing in mind that the president is yet to put in his cabinet, but we are meeting with a number of permanent secretaries in various sectors, trade, business, investment, aviation.
“There are sole priorities for us and one is dealing with a direct flight from Nigeria to Houston, Houston to Nigeria.
“Because when you start talking about trade and investment, you need to make it as easy as possible for persons to go from one place to another. That has been a top priority.
“One of the largest Diaspora outside Nigeria is in Houston. There are more Nigerians in Houston than they are in New York, L.A, Atlanta, and so we need a consular office in the area of Huston.
“So, we are hoping to encourage the Nigerian government to set up a consular office.
“When I came to office eight years ago, that was one of the biggest requests from the Nigerian community in Houston so we want to enhance that.
“The third is to simply enhance the trade and investment between the two. Right now, Nigeria is Houston’s largest trading partner.
“Annually about $1.6 billion as at 2022; that seems to be a large number but we think there is room for expansion and we want to push that,” Turner said.
Turner said that Nigeria was a growing economic market, which made huge sense for businesses in the United States and specifically Houston to be doing business in Nigeria.
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He, however, noted that Houston was not engaging to take way from Nigeria but pushing for businesses and engagements that would be a win-win and mutually benefitting.
The mayor also expressed optimism in the present administration, adding that the U.S was always ready to support the Nigerian government.
“We are certainly hopeful about the president and the policy he is putting in place.
“Houston wants to do business with you, we want more trade with you, we want to build on our cultural ties and you do not make that happen being at a distance with one another,” Turner added.
(NAN)