Abidjan, the capital of the Cote D’Ivoire was full to the brim as representatives of over three hundred organizations from 13 countries thronged the city to participate in a 4-day international investment forum tagged “INVEST IN COTE D’IVOIRE 2014” organized by the government of the “Elephant of African”.

 

Nigeria’s Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo participated in the opening session of the forum where he emphasized on the role of the private sector as an agent of economic development.

The vice president stated that the role of the private sector in economic development could not be overemphasized and therefore “it is imperative that we must continue to promote private sector-driven activities at government investments in our countries.” He said

 

Arc Namadi Sambo believed that the participation of Nigeria in the forum was of great importance as it would provide her the avenue through which she and her regional partners would rub mind in their collective bilateral and multilateral relations and seek ways of mutual cooperation and development. “it is crucial and important that we consider how countries all over the globe are gradually unifying and consolidating efforts to achieve common objectives in our globalised world.” He said

The vice president  added that the forum would also provide the platform through which investors and entrepreneurs would synergize to foster economic prosperity for the entire sub-region.

In his remarks, the Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire Daniel Kablan Duncan stated that his country has now turned a new leaf. After emerging from 15 years of crisis, the country was now a major gateway to Africa, with a diversified economy, high investments in infrastructure and a major player in the ECOWAS sub-region and was now set on the path of growth and prosperity. He added that “Cote’ d’Ivoire was now open to the world and stretching her hands for a win-win partnership.”

In his remark, the President of the African Development Bank (ADB) Daniel Kaberuka, stated that after a decade of recess, the bank was now back for business and expressed the readiness of the institution to work with governments to ensure an all-inclusive growth in Africa.

Also in her remarks, IMF president Christine Lagarde stated that investment is crucial to both public and private sectors and promised support in technical areas as well as economic policies by the institutions to Cote D’Ivoire in her reforms and economic development programmes.

The president also applauded the remarkable growth rate of the sub-Saharan African countries which was placed at 6%, and which she said was significant.

Bashir Bello

for: SSA (MEDIA & PUBLICITY)

TO THE VICE PRESIDENT