Central Bank Govs Converge on Abuja for D-8 Summit

 

From Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Paul Obi in Abuja, 06.24.2010 

 

In a move to expand the scope of investment among developing countries, the Federal Government is to host D-8 Summit, a group of developing countries,  in Abuja next month.

 

 

This was made known yesterday in Abuja during a parley between the Foreign Affairs Ministry and envoys representing the group of D8.Speaking during the parley, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Amb. Martins Uhomoibhi told journalists that “the summit is to appraise the economic and investment opportunities among member countries as well as enhance the development of our respective nations”. According to the Uhomoibi, “it is very important that we keep this summit businesslike and investment focus; primarily, the summit will dwell more on economic issues, trade exhibition, and business forums in pursuance of creating opportunities for investors among members, reducing difficulties in Visas application among others”.

 

 

Uhomoibhi,  while stating that the summit will be devoid of political issues, informed the gathering that Central Bank Governors of the respective members’ nations are also to converge in Abuja as part of the strategy to revive investment agreement reached by member nations. Responding on the behalf of other diplomats, the Malaysian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Nik Mustafa Kamal,  observed that the summit will assist in untiring the loopholes that have made investment among members difficult, saying  he rather believes that the simplification of visas in the movement of people among the group will go a long way in bringing about economic growth.

 

 

The D8 with its headquarters in Turkey is made up of 8 developing nations mostly from the Islamic Organization Conference (OIC); they include Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and Turkey. The summit is expected to start on the 5th of July, while the Heads of States meeting is slated for the 8th of July, 2010.

 

(Source:ThisDay)

 

 

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