Paris Forum to Ignite Nigeria-Europe Business Relations in 2024

Spotlight Nigeria Forum 2024 to Boost Trade and Investment Opportunities

Spotlight Nigeria, the prominent annual business forum aimed at strengthening trade and investment between Nigeria and Europe, is set to return to Paris in October 2024. Organized by Friends of Nigeria (FON), a Paris-based diaspora group, the event has emerged as a key platform for fostering business collaborations between the two regions.

Abiodun Odunuga, Project Manager of Spotlight Nigeria and Co-Founder of FON, highlighted the importance of this year’s forum. “The event this year is quite strategic because of the critical public and private stakeholders brought together from Nigeria and France interested in forging business partnerships,” Odunuga said. “Going by the confirmations we have received, we expect some deals to be concretized in the agricultural, finance, energy, and innovation sectors.”

Now in its seventh edition, Spotlight Nigeria has grown into a vital event for business leaders, investors, and government officials. It plays a key role in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to restore investor confidence and attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into sectors ranging from agriculture to technology.

This year’s event is scheduled for October 9, 2024, at l’Hôtel de l’Industrie in Paris. The forum will feature over 30 Nigerian companies, three regional governments, and more than 100 CEOs, contractors, and investors. It will also include senior officials like Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, the Technical Adviser to the President on Foreign Direct Investment, and Florent Mangin from the French Treasury.

The Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, as well as the Nigeria-Europe Trade & Investment Summit (NETIS), has thrown its full support behind the event. The Presidency, represented by the Office of the Vice President, also backs the initiative.

Princess Zahrah expressed the government’s commitment to Spotlight Nigeria, saying, “We are pleased to support and participate in the Spotlight Nigeria program, which aligns with our objectives of promoting economic growth and development in Nigeria. We believe our collaboration will further amplify Nigeria’s investment profile and attract potential investors.”

Spotlight Nigeria 2024 will place a particular focus on selected Nigerian states, showcasing their investment opportunities to an international audience. The event will feature business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) meetings, plenary sessions, and ample networking opportunities. Key industries such as agriculture, finance, digital innovation, technology, and renewable energy will be at the forefront of discussions.

With high-level participants from both Nigeria and France, Spotlight Nigeria is poised to significantly boost Nigeria-Europe trade relations, paving the way for transformative business deals and partnerships.