Buhari In South Africa, Seeks $40bn Investments
As part of his ongoing socio-economic diplomacy trips, President Muhammadu Buhari landed in Durban, South Africa, on Saturday.
On Monday, the president will attend the inauguration of the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2021 in Durban, at the request of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The fair, with the theme “Building Bridges for a Successful AfCFTA,” aims at boosting trade and investment across the African continent, the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina said.
“Global businesses, including non-African international brands, are expected to key into opportunities generated by the fair, thereby attracting to continental trade investment deals worth $40 billion,” the president’s media aide said.
Mr. Adesina emphasized that the event would also aim to foster a business-friendly climate across the continent.
The event is expected to provide market data that will let buyers and sellers across the continent connect.
On November 9, the president was in Paris for an official visit as a guest of President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais de l’Élysée.
From November 11 to 13, he also attended the three-day Paris Peace Forum (PPF).
Mr Buhari and his French colleague talked about problems that both countries are interested in.
The conversations centered on bolstering economic connections, expanding security partnerships, and cooperating on education, health, and countering Covid-19’s dangers to the global economy.
The president also attended the Nigeria International Partnership Forum while in Paris (NIPF).
The Nigerian and French governments, as well as respective private sectors, attended the meeting.
In Paris, the president met with Mohammed Al-Jasser, president of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), and Sheikh Shakboot Alnahyan, Minister of State Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirate.
On Friday, he was in Paris for the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Nigeria has had a close relationship with the organization since its founding 75 years ago, according to the president.
On November 16, the president is due to return to Nigeria.
