Nigeria-Netherlands Business Forum: President Tinubu advocates transformative partnerships for citizens gains

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria emphasized the necessity of transformative and mutually beneficial partnerships during his address at the Nigeria-Netherlands Business and Investment Forum held in The Hague on Thursday.

The president stressed that partnerships between nations must directly translate into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.

President Tinubu highlighted the crucial role of strengthened ties between Nigeria and the Netherlands, urging both countries to explore innovative avenues of collaboration, including partnerships, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. These efforts, he noted, are essential to fostering market connections and facilitating the exchange of goods, services, ideas, and people.

In his speech, Tinubu outlined key reforms by his administration aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s business environment. These measures include streamlining the foreign exchange market for transparency in transactions, removal of fuel subsidies, and ensuring the Central Bank’s readiness to facilitate the repatriation of foreign companies’ profits.

The president touted Nigeria’s improved business climate, labeling the country an “investor’s paradise” ripe with opportunities. He urged attendees, comprised of business leaders and entrepreneurs, to seize these opportunities and forge mutually beneficial economic partnerships with the Netherlands.

During the forum, President Tinubu acknowledged the longstanding diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the Netherlands and called for an expansion of these relations into commerce, innovation, and enterprise. He emphasized the potential for collaboration to leverage unique strengths and resources toward economic development.

“Our focus should be on industrial value addition, agribusiness, innovative technology, green energy, marine economic expansion, and solid mineral exploitation,” President Tinubu stated, underscoring the importance of advancing economic cooperation.

Concluding his remarks, President Tinubu expressed optimism that the forum would mark a new era of robust economic relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands. He called for constructive dialogue and cooperation to pave the way for shared prosperity and sustainable development.