By David Akinmola
Country Director, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Nigeria, Xavier Muron has called on Nigerian businesses to tap into the number of projects by the AFD to create development within the country.
Muron stated this at the AFD-Funded Projects workshop organised by Franco Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) in collaboration with AFD with Business France in Lagos.
He said the group includes AFD, which finances the public sector, NGOs, research, and training; and its subsidiaries Proparco, dedicated to the private sector; and Expertise France, a technical cooperation agency.
He said the Group finances, supports, and accelerates the transitions needed for a fairer, more resilient world.
He noted that the dynamic portfolio of projects worth over €2 billion investment ongoing with €1.4 billion to be disbursed.
He said Nigerian businesses need to partner with some French businesses to improve their offers while also being smart and up and doing to partake in the projects by the AFD group.
Head of the Economic Department and Regional Economic Counselor of France, Florent Mangin, said AFD will be deploying about one million euros within the next year to boost economic progress in Nigeria.
Mangin said French businesses have moved away from Nigeria because of insecurity and economic challenges but are willing to return to back to Nigeria considering the economic policies and political stability in the country.
He said forging partnerships and combining expertise with Nigerian companies will boost the development of success in the country.
Earlier in his address, the Consul General of France in Lagos, Laurent Favier, said the workshop exemplifies economic stability to foster collaboration by building bilateral relationships between France and Nigeria.
Favier said the event is part of the eco-bilateral 2025 projects with the motive to ensure Nigerian companies are aware of the French finances and partner with French companies in a wide range of sectors.
