The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri G. Balasubramanian, said over 135 Indian companies have so far invested 19 billion dollars in Nigeria in the last four decades of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Balasubramanian, made the statement while commending the India-Nigeria mutual bilateral relations during a courtesy visit to Nigeria in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He said that the relations between India and Nigeria had been excellent, saying the visit was to deepen news and cultural programme exchanges between both countries.
According to him, the visit seeks to promote avenues where India and Nigeria could cooperate through information sharing, news networks, among other things.
“The cultural relations, the connection between our people is really good and with your assistance I will certainly like to strengthen this tie.
“There are over 135 Indian companies, which have invested about $19billion in Nigeria over a period of years, not in one year, but for the past four decades.
“Most of them are in Lagos, they are in every part of Nigeria and are in the manufacturing sector of the economy, steel, oil and gas or pharmaceuticals.
“Three billion dollars of that is in pharmaceuticals manufactured in Nigeria by Indian companies; there is strong relationship we have in pharmaceuticals and other business activities.
“Nigeria is home to about 60,000 Indians who are living and who have made Nigeria as their home literally, for the past four decades.” Balasubramanian said.
New Delhi
He said that Nigeria’s invitation as guest participant to the G20 Summit scheduled for 2023 in India would form a unique opportunity to showcase the priority of developing countries to the world.
He said that the importance of the relations between the two countries was well known in India, hence Nigeria’s invitation to the Summit from Sept. 9 to Sept.10, in New Delhi.
The envoy listed plans by the mission to host journalists from across West Africa on field visits to India with a renewed offer of 500 scholarships to Nigerians and promote the study of Mass Communication in India, in 2023.
He further reeled out the mission’s programmes to be India National Day on Jan. 26, Food Festival and Cooking Competition on Jan. 28, and facilitation of “Yoga” weekly-exercise to boost healthy living.
NAN/Olusola Akintonde
