From:Walter Ukaegbu, Abuja
THE President of Slovenia –Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Mr Fred Uduma, has revealed that the trade balance between Nigeria and Slovenia stood at €10.2 million in 2014.
Uduma, who dropped this hint during an interview with the Daily Sun in Abuja when he led a group of Slovenia – Nigeria Chamber of Commerce to Abuja, explained that the figures indicate that the two countries were not enjoying good business relationship.
According to him, their chamber and partners were challenged to build a stronger foundation to facilitate trade, investment and promote opportunities that exist between the two countries, thereby increasing the trade volume and maximizing profit.
On why the chamber members decided to visit Nigeria, Uduma explained that they came with their Nigerian counterparts to promote and facilitate trade relationship with Nigeria.
“We also came to give Slovenia companies the true picture of doing business in Nigeria and remove the impression that Nigeria is all about crime and killings. We made them to know that Nigeria is full of people who can do clean business.
“By that, they would know what Nigerians want and what they can do with Slovenia”, he said. Uduma disclosed that the mission delegates share Nigerians value of doing business and are capable and energetic partners that can be trusted.
“They are internationally renowned companies from engineering, mining manufacturing,services, general import and export and education among others. It is a highly innovative country with high technology and are highly skilled, while it has everything Nigeria needs. Nigeria also has everything they need,” he said.
He said when there is a bi-lateral trade agreement with Slovenia, it would open doors for free trade and communication.
On the impression of the trade delegation, the chamber president stated that their impression was over- whelming, particularly about Boko Haram which the western media made them to believe it’s commonplace, but saw it was not, as it was wrongly described by their media.
Uduma explained that they saw Nigeria as where they could do business because they believed if they invested in Nigeria they would have a lot to gain, adding that the situation in Nigeria is very temporal.
According to him, Slovenia appeal were not a low – cost manufacturing, but the reputation of its technology and innovation- driven industries, while it is confident of its international competitiveness attributed to its highly educated, skilled work force.