The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun, has expressed optimism over the recent engagement between President Bola Tinubu and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, alluding that such engagement will boost job creation in Nigeria and a sign of good things that will happen to the Nigerian economy.
The Minister stated that both nations agreed to collaborate in several fields, including technology, housing, finance, and agriculture.
Tinubu, who is in France on a state visit, had a meeting with Macron on Thursday where some deals were signed between both countries.
Edun is part of the President’s delegation to France, and he spoke exclusively with Channels Television from the European country on Friday, noting that the engagement between the two leaders “bodes well for employment, the creation of jobs, and the growth of the Nigerian industry.”
He said Macron received a clear message that Nigeria is open for business from Tinubu’s ongoing reforms, which are starting to stabilize and reset the economy and prepare it for investors.
Edun pointed out that the French leader urged both the public and private sectors in his nation to increase their investments in Nigeria’s economy.
“Essentially, in a wide range of discussions that included a number of ministers from both sides and both countries’ leaders, there is commitment from both sides to engage in agriculture and in the development of initiatives to improve food security.
“In the area of solid minerals, a MoU was signed between the two minerals in charge of solid minerals, likewise in the finance sector,” Edun said.
According to the finance minister, the agreements span a wide range of topics, including housing, technology, healthcare, and infrastructure.
He went on to say both sides are under pressure to strengthen ties between the two public sectors and that French businesspeople should seize the opportunities that are now presented as Nigeria’s economy stabilizes.
President Tinubu, meanwhile, has praised the cordial ties with French President Emmanuel Macron and expressed gratitude for his interest in Africa.
Tinubu expressed assurance that the continent would gain from deeper bilateral ties fostered by Macron’s goodwill.
At the French government’s State Dinner for President Tinubu on Thursday night at the Palais des Elysée in Paris, the Nigerian leader urged the French and Nigerian people to maintain their friendly ties.
