Tuggar: Shettima to Market Nigeria to Global Audience at Davos

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to market the country to global audience at the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) presently holding in Davos, Switzerland.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, made this known in a statement yesterday.

The World Economic Forum started yesterday and is expected to end on Friday, 19th January, with a series of meetings lined up for Shettima, who is the leader of Nigeria’s delegation.

According to Tuggar,  Nigeria’s resilient business climate resonates with the agenda of the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum; the 2024 edition with the theme ‘Rebuilding Trust.’

The statement which was signed by the spokesman of the Minister, Alkasim Abdulkadir, noted that the intention of the meeting that holds annually in Davos, was to provide a crucial space that offers solutions to global challenges facing countries, especially transiting countries.

It added: “This year, the organisers of WEF have taken a step back and focused on the fundamental principles of driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.

“All these soundly resonate with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is propelled by a commitment to unleashing the country’s full economic potential through focusing on job creation, access to capital for small and large businesses, inclusivity and, most importantly, the rule of law which underpins WEF’s theme for this year.”

Tuggar, revealed that  Shettima, alongside 52 other Heads of State, including Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, as well as over 1,500 CEOs and Chairpersons of the largest companies in the world were expected at the global event.

He said the Vice President during the week-long Forum was expected to engage with top global investors at the meeting and participate in a series of programmes designed for Nigeria, including a Country Strategy Dialogue on Nigeria.

He added that Nigeria’s delegation at Davos would be part of the Country Strategy Dialogue on Nigeria, which is a roundtable that would be chaired by Vice President Shettima – with the expected participation of 60 global CEOs/Chairs.

The Minister also said Nigeria was expected to have a stakeholder dialogue entitled, “Transforming Energy Demand,” to discuss what companies and governments could do to enable economic growth with less energy, where the Minister of Petroleum Resources would be on the panel of discussants representing the Vice President.

The Vice President was also scheduled to hold a private meeting with Dolf van den Brink, Global Chief Executive Officer, Heineken, to discuss areas of partnerships and collaboration and later in the same day attend another stakeholder dialogue entitled, “Treating Soil as a Precious Resource,’ to discuss ways of tackling the trilemma of food access and affordability, nutrition and health, as well as nature and climate, where he would be represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, according to Tuggar.

The Foreign Affairs Minister noted that the  Vice President would privately meet James Quincey, Global Executive Chief Officer of Coca-Cola Company, with the engagement ending with a private dinner with Klaus and Hilde Schwab; noting that the dinner would bring together Heads of State, Government, and International Organisations as well as members of the Board of Trustees, the International Business Council, and Strategic Partners.

Tuggar also revealed that the Vice President was scheduled to have a private breakfast entitled ‘Driving Action Under the African Continental Free Trade Area,’ where the Forum Friends of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) coalition brings together heads of state, ministers, chief executives, and heads of international organisations to support the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement through public-private collaboration, and “at noon, the Vice President will be represented at a private lunch event entitled “IGWEL: Lunch-Restoring Faith in the Global System by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

The statement further explained that this Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL) convenes policymakers and business leaders to discuss what an effective multilateral system could look like and how to strengthen faith in global cooperation, adding that equally, the Vice President would host a private country-focused session entitled, “Country Strategy Dialogue on Nigeria,” which would delve into the priorities of the Nigerian government and engage in a dialogue about the country’s economic path.

 He disclosed that the Nigeria Reception was a cultural and entertainment event to be hosted by Vice President Shettima and the ministerial delegation. It would feature Nigerian food, music, national ethos and culture. An estimated 600 participants are expected at the event.

Tuggar further stated that Nigeria’s participation at the Forum’s Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for Vice President Shettima to woo foreign investors to Nigeria. He also expressed optimism that Nigeria’s attendance holds great economic benefits for the country.