Investors from Belgium have expressed interest in the National Maritime Transport Policy being developed by Nigeria.
Executive officers of the Port of Antwerp International, a Belgium port, stated this in Lagos during a meeting with Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Bashir Jamoh, according to a statement.
Jamoh highlighted huge opportunities for investment in wreck removal and recycling, stressing that the Federal Government was planning a coordinated wreck removal policy to drive investment in the area in a statement titled, ‘FDI: Belgian investors watching Nigeria’s maritime transport policy closely’.
The visiting team of executives from the Port of Antwerp International had sought audience with the NIMASA boss to follow up investment interests in Nigeria.
The Managing Director of APEC-Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Centre and Port of Antwerp International, Mr Kristof Waterschoot, and Director at Port of Antwerp International, Mr Mario Lievens, said they were also in Nigeria to promote new partnership opportunities, especially in the area of training.
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Waterschoot and Lievens, who hosted Jamoh at the Nigerian Belgian Chamber of Commerce, Onikan, Lagos, said their mission was to discuss projects of interest, including inland ports, and to strengthen the relationship between the Port of Antwerp and NIMASA, particularly in the areas of training, technical support, and cooperation.
They said Nigeria’s proposed National Maritime Transport Policy was being watched as it unfolded to see how Belgium could come in with investments, according to the statement.
Waterschoot expressed belief in Nigeria, observing that the business climate in Nigeria could be difficult, but there was hardly any country without its peculiar difficulties.
Jamoh praised the long-standing diplomatic and economic relationship between Nigeria and Belgium.
He highlighted the Federal Government’s abiding interest in diversifying the economy, saying the development of maritime infrastructure is part of the government’s economic diversification drive.