Dangote urges African leaders, investors to grow regional market
AFRICA’S RICH EST MAN and Nigerian entrepreneur, Aliko Dangote, has called on African investors and governments to make conscious efforts towards deepening African regional market, in a bid to aid rapid growth and development of the continent’s economy.
Speaking during “One to One Conversation” at the on-going 5th annual Financial Times African Summit in London, the foremost businessman said the key to Africa’s economic growth and strength is in the development of the regional market, adding that Africans need to trade
with Africans.
Dangote said, “Africans must patronize African markets which is why the free trade agreements by African nations is the direction to go to strengthen African markets.”
Citing an instance of his own experience, the president of Dangote group referred to the case of neighbouring Benin Republic where the country continues to import cement from China while his Nigerian factory is only 35
Africans must patronize African markets which is why the free trade agreements by African nations is the direction to go to strengthen African markets
miles away from the border.
Asked about when the much-touted listing of Dangote cement on the London Stock Exchange, he said, all hands are on deck to complete the process of listing.
Speaking about difficult markets like Tanzania and Ethiopia, Dangote dismissed the issue of difficulty, re-affirming that, “our aim is to always provide jobs and worth. As an African investor, I don’t want any investor anywhere in Africa to have a bad experience.”