"Aspirations unite beyond mountains and seas, hand in hand embarks on a new journey"

Key leaders and guests attending the event included Ms. Huang Naen, Deputy Director General and Level One Inspector of the Fujian Provincial Department of Commerce; Mr. Luo Guansheng, Full-time Vice President of the Fujian Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese; Ms. Zhang Yao, Level One Inspector of the Fujian Provincial Overseas Chinese Federation; Mr. Zhu Sihai, Vice President of Jiangxia University, Fujian; Ms. Zhang Zhiying, Level Two Inspector of the United Front Work Department of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee; Ms. Zhang Wei, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Fuzhou; Mr. Zheng Xusheng, President of the Nigerian Fujian Fellow Association; Mr. Lin Qiantao, Chairman of Qunfeng Investment Group; Mr. Zhang Xianghai, President of the Edo State Chinese Chamber of Commerce and General Manager of Nigerian Yongxing Steel Co., Ltd., along with a delegation led by Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, Nigeria.

During the event, Ms. Huang Naen, Deputy Director General of the Fujian Provincial Department of Commerce, stated that Fujian is a core area of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and Nigeria is one of the countries participating in the "Belt and Road" initiative and the largest population and economic power in Africa. In 2022, the total import and export volume between Fujian and Nigeria reached 10.51 billion RMB, ranking fifth nationwide and accounting for 12% of Fujian's total trade with Africa. Ms. Huang expressed the expectation that this promotion event would serve as a new starting point to further develop and enhance economic and trade relations between the two sides, expanding trade scale, enriching trade categories, developing digital trade, and strengthening industrial cooperation.

Mr. Luo Guansheng, Full-time Vice President of the Fujian Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, extended a warm welcome to the Nigerian guests and friends who had come from afar and expressed sincere thanks to all friends who have long promoted the development of friendly relations between China and Nigeria and facilitated exchanges and cooperation between Fujian Province and Nigeria.

Vice President Luo also emphasized that in 2023, the 15th BRICS Summit will be held in South Africa, and China has initiated the "Support Africa's Industrialization Initiative," proposing the "China Assists Africa's Agricultural Modernization Plan" and the "China-Africa Talent Training Cooperation Plan." He hoped that Edo State and numerous Fujian enterprises, through this promotion event, could deepen their understanding, seek cooperation projects, and find suitable ways of cooperation.

Ms. Zhang Yao, first-level inspector of the Fujian Provincial Overseas Chinese Federation: 2023 is the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria. It is also the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s proposal to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, the policy concept of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith towards Africa, and the “Belt and Road” cooperation initiative... “One Belt and One Road” cooperation initiative There are more than 10 million overseas Chinese from Fujian in the countries along the “Belt and Road”. As witnesses and participants in the joint construction of the “Belt and Road”, overseas Chinese have demonstrated their skills and played an active role in various fields. Looking to the future, overseas Chinese are eager to try and add new contributions to the “One Belt, One Road” initiative.

Mr. Zheng Xusheng, President of the Nigerian Fujian Fellow Association, and Mr. Zhang Xianghai, President of the Edo State Chinese Chamber of Commerce and General Manager of Nigerian Yongxing Steel Co., Ltd., also spoke at the event. They highlighted that Africa remains fertile ground for Chinese investment, and focusing on Nigeria, Edo State stands out with its significant geographical advantages, abundant oil and gas resources, friendly and sincere people, outstanding human resources and skills, and strong policy support. It is the preferred destination for overseas investment by compatriots, entrepreneurs, and investors!

During the event, the delegation led by Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki provided detailed introductions regarding the resource advantages, current industrial development status, and future development plans of Edo State. Governor Obaseki emphasized that Edo State has rich energy, cultural, agricultural, and human resources. Simultaneously, the state is actively developing emerging industries, providing investors with vast development space and business opportunities.

Furthermore, to better promote investment promotion work, Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki highlighted that the state is preparing to introduce a series of preferential policies for investment promotion, including tax incentives, energy use benefits, talent employment incentives, and more, aiming to attract more enterprises and investors to invest and establish businesses in Edo State.

At the event, representatives of various industries from Fujian engaged in in-depth exchanges with government officials from Edo State through a Q&A interactive session. They passionately discussed how to leverage the resource and policy advantages of Edo State to promote investment and cooperation by Fujian entrepreneurs.

The successful holding of this investment promotion conference not only injected new impetus into the future economic development of Edo State but also provided broader space for Chinese enterprises to expand internationally.