Nigeria among first 4 countries to launch UN online investment forum

Nigeria is among the first four countries selected by the United Nations to launch online investment forum to increase investment inflows into the country.

Speaking during the formal launch of the forum tagged ‘iGuide Nigeria’ in Abuja, yesterday, the Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Emmanuel Chinyama, said Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia and Congo were selected as the first set of countries to develop the online guide on investment information in their countries.

He said the guide has a proven record of increasing investment inflows into countries that host it and Nigeria has the potential of increasing investments through the guide.

The guide, funded by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, was launched by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission UNCTAD.

At the launch, the Executive Secretary of the NIPC, Ms Yewande Sadiku, said the information on the guide will benefit both domestic and foreign investors.

She said as a one-stop information repository for prospective investors, the guide contains information on starting a business in Nigeria, wages, taxes, transport fares, electricity bills, water bills, licence requirements, contacts, (NIPC) and incentives, experiences, current government policies on investments and general information on investing in the country.

She said the information was collated from different government agencies and sub-national investment agencies.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, commended the guide as an initiative that will “undoubtedly enhance investment inflows into Nigeria.”