The vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is leading a public-private sector collaborative investment delegation for road shows in the United States, where he will be speaking to global industry leaders in information technology and entertainment at the Silicon Valley in San Francisco and Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.
Spokesman for the vice president, Mr. Laolu Akande said in a statement issued Abuja that members of the recently inaugurated Advisory Group on Technology and Creativity would join the vice president on the investment road shows which holds from July 9-11.
He said the programme is aimed primarily at showcasing the continued improvement in Nigeria’s business environment to entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders in both American cities.
During the trip, Akande said “Prof. Osinbajo will emphasize on a number of the Buhari administration’s policies such as the Ease of Doing Business reforms, which have improved the country’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index 2017.”
“In the World Bank Doing Business index, Nigeria climbed up 24 places and was placed on the list of 10 most reformed economies globally. Also, the report noted that Nigeria made significant progress across several indicators comprising starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency,” said Akande.
During the his engagement in the US, Osinbajo is expected to visit the headquarters of some leading global technology companies.
“There will also be sessions with investors, Fund Managers and large US technology companies, as well as presentations by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), the Bank of Industry (BOI), and the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat,” he added.
Other aspects of Osinbajo’ trip will be to showcase to the progress and strides in the country’s technology, innovation and creative space by Nigerian technology start-ups and entertainment industry practitioners.
Also, during the trip, Akande said some leading Nigerian start-ups will be making pitches about their ideas and products so as to promote investment by US companies in Nigeria’s technology and creativity sector.
“It would also focus on collaboration between Nigerian and US companies in the areas of technology and entertainment, including further cooperation between Nigeria’s film industry, Nollywood, and US Hollywood in the areas of production, distribution and content protection,” he said.
On the trip with Osinbajo are minister for industry, trade and investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah; special adviser to the president on economic affairs, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu; senior government officials from the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council, Nigeria Export Promotion Council Ease of Doing Business Secretariat among others.
