Stakeholders gear up ahead automotive summit
Arrangements are in top gear for the historic Nigeria automotive summit inside the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island on June 16. This year’s summit will be a landmark gathering of government and industry leaders, the event follows on from the federal government’s introduction of a new automotive policy last year October under the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).
In a document exclusively made available by Kempstone Media, a UK-based global, media services organisation specialising in sub-Saharan African Government policy and business development to BusinessDay and part sponsors of the event, dignitaries expected at the one-day event are vehicle manufacturers, senior government officials, component manufacturers and suppliers, testing and validation service providers and developers.
Others include raw materials suppliers, industrial infrastructure providers and developers, finance and investment professionals, automobile dealers, consultants and engineers including educational institutions.
Participants will use the platform provided by the programme to identify new and lucrative business opportunities, gain first hand invaluable insights into the NAIDP and a market advantage over your competitors and explore Nigeria as a gateway to West and Central African markets.
They would also use the opportunity network with policy makers and industry leaders as well as be able to position their brands and companies as a major player and solution provider in the newly revitalised and profitable automotive sector.
The NAIDP is a 10-year strategic framework that incorporates measures and incentives which have been designed to expand the nation’s vehicle and auto-parts manufacturing industries.
Olusegun Aganga, Nigeria’s minister of industry trade and investment, who will be attending the event as guest speaker, said recently that he was greatly encouraged by the progress the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan had made.
The automotive sector is a key component of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment’s five-year Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), which aims to diversify the nation’s economy and increase the manufacturing sectors contribution to the country’s GDP.”
The summit will highlight opportunities for investment, joint ventures, industrial infrastructure development, vehicle sales, cooperative technology development, education and training. In addition, the crucial steps that are being taken by the Nigerian government to support and maximise the potential of the country’s automotive industry will be shared.
Delegates attending the summit will have the opportunity of gaining insight into Nigerian government policy and market trends, network with policy makers and industry leaders. Reputable and global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMS) said they are coming to establish their automotive assembly plants in Nigeria. It would be recalled that Nissan rolled out the first Nissan Patrol SUV in the country last April.
According to Aminu Jalal, director general, National Automotive Council (NAC), “With our current population and economy, our potential vehicle market is about a million vehicles annually which is more than sufficient to support an automotive industry.”
Other speakers at the event will include Jelani Aliyu, senior designer at General Motors and designer of the Chevy Volt; and Alec Erwin, former South African minister of public enterprises; and Carlos Ghosn, chief executive officer, Nissan Motor Corporation.
Mike Ochonma