Nigeria and Canada are seeking to strengthen bilateral trade and investment by improving data systems, with the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada in Nigeria, Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, saying Canadian investors need predictable policies, clear legislation and reliable data before committing capital.
Speaking at the Lagos Business School Fireside Chat in Lagos on Thursday, Rojas-Arbulú said Nigeria could attract significantly more Canadian investment, particularly in the mining and oil and gas sectors, if it addressed information gaps and created a more predictable investment environment.
The event, themed ‘Leading Africa’s Future: Business, Purpose and the Canada-Nigeria Partnership’, brought together business leaders, academics and policymakers to discuss ways of deepening economic ties between both countries.
Rojas-Arbulú noted that Canadian firms are weighing opportunities in Nigeria against competing destinations across Africa and other regions.
“Canadian companies are looking at Ghana, they’re looking at Mexico, they’re looking at Guatemala, South Africa and beyond. And they’re looking for environments where there’s predictability, there’s stability, there’s an investment framework that allows for clarity, legislation in place, and of course, the data,” the diplomat explained.
