The Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has endorsed the upcoming Nigeria-United Arab Emirates (UAE) economic summit, set to be a milestone in fortifying trade relations between the two nations.
This endorsement came during a recent visit by the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Salem Shaeed Al Shamsi, to Dr. Alake’s office.
Reflecting on the historical significance of Nigeria-UAE relations, which span over 50 years, Dr. Alake highlighted how the summit will serve as a platform for deepening economic ties.
“The potential for collaboration in the mining sector is vast,” he noted in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Segun Tomori. Both nations, Dr. Alake emphasized, are strategically positioned as mineral trade hubs, and Nigeria’s rich deposits of high-demand minerals offer a unique foundation for shared economic growth.
Ambassador Al Shamsi, sharing his vision for the summit, announced that the event would bring together 30 to 35 major companies from the UAE and the broader Middle East.
This gathering aims to boost Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) into Nigeria, while expanding trade channels between the two nations.
Al Shamsi expressed optimism about the forum’s potential to create sustainable partnerships and foster collaborative ventures in sectors ripe for development.
The summit builds on last year’s discussions between President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and UAE President Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan at COP 28.
These discussions helped restore diplomatic ties and led to the lifting of visa restrictions on Nigerian applicants.
As Nigeria and the UAE prepare for this summit, both nations are positioned to open new pathways for trade and investment, laying the groundwork for economic growth and mutual prosperity.
