By Udeme Ekwere

A global publishing, research and consultancy firm, the Oxford Business Group, has entered into a partnership with Asset and Resource Management Company Limited to boost foreign investments in Nigeria.

According to a statement from OBG on Thursday, the partnership will seek to highlight the investment opportunities available in the Nigerian financial sector, thus encouraging more foreigners to invest in the market.

It added that the partnership would see ARM work with the OBG’s editorial and research team to compile the capital markets section of “The Report: Nigeria 2011”.

The publication will provide comprehensive coverage of the country’s economic activity and investment opportunities, including in-depth analysis of the development of equity finance and Nigeria’s bid to build a corporate bond market.

The OBG’s Country Director, Ms. Claudia Muro, said that the group looked forward to collaborating with ARM, adding that its valuable contribution would undoubtedly give the Group’s new report on Nigeria an edge.

She said, “Our 2010 report was widely recognised as breaking new ground with its incisive analysis of the reforms underway in Nigeria and the rapid expansion of its non-oil sector, particularly in financial services and telecoms.

“ARM has an in-depth understanding of Nigeria’s rapidly-evolving financial services sector and hands-on experience of its Public Private Partnership framework, which is a key component in many of the country’s infrastructure projects. I am delighted that the institution will be bringing its 15 years of expertise and experience to our highly-anticipated 2011 report.”

She explained that the report would include a sector-by-sector guide for foreign investors, together with an analysis of the Petroleum Industry Bill and a detailed look at the prospects for incoming fibre optic cable capacity.

According to her, it will also feature a wide range of interviews with the country’s most prominent political, economic and business leaders, including the United States Under Secretary of State, Ms. Maria Otero; a former Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, Mr. Bertie Ahern; and the Managing Director of the World Bank, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The Managing Director, ARM Securities Limited, Mr. Wale Odutola, said that he looked forward to pooling resources with OBG to chart the developments in Nigeria’s financial services sector.

He said, “Nigeria has maintained a rapid pace of reform, despite the global economic crisis, and pushed ahead with its efforts to offer investors an increasingly attractive business environment. “With the financial services sector at the forefront of the country’s economic expansion, the timing of our partnership with the Oxford Business Group couldn’t be better.

“We, therefore, look forward to working closely with the publishing firm, which is known to be an authority on emerging markets, and playing a key role in ensuring that ‘The Report: Nigeria 2011’ offers investors worldwide the business intelligence they need to make their decisions.”

 

Source: Punch