Kano Partners Republic Of Guinea For Closer Economic Ties

Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Tuesday hosted a special business session with the President of the Republic of Guinea, Professor Alpha Conde and Kano business community.

The event took place at Africa House, Government House in Kano.

The move and the initiative was borne out of efforts at finding investment opportunities for the Kano business community in Guinea and vice versa, informed the governor’s decision to organise the session, which allowed kano people and Guinean President alongside some of his Ministers, to have a one on one discussion for mutual economic benefits, according to a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to Kano State Governor Abba Anwar on Wednesday.

The statement said President Conde assured the business community that they would always be ready to welcome Kano business people for investment opportunities laying there in his country, emphasising that, “Being brothers coming from Africa, you would surely have no problem at all in harnessing the abundant investment opportunities in our dear country.”

He encouraged the business community that, his country has effective ease of doing business environment. While assuring that, since his assumption as President of the Republic, in 2010, he has been doing his best to see that all odds against transparent, smoother and healthier economy got rid of.

The statement said Governor Ganduje said, “I am indeed particularly delighted by Your Excellency’s passion and expressed commitment to hold discussions between your delegation and members of our business community in Kano on various investment opportunities in the Republic of Guinea among other related issues.”

Stressing further, the strength and relevance of Kano business community in economic development, both within and outside the showers of Nigeria, he said: “The Kano business community today constitutes an important and unique force in Nigeria and the World in general.”

Adding that “In the past couple of decades, it has grown into an energetic and confident community that has accorded Nigeria a good stand-in many parts of the World. It is our pride to state that today, the richest black man in the World is a native of Kano in the person of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON.”

To show the readiness and economic position in the global arena, the governor told Guinean President that “Trade and commerce have for over many centuries become the defining character of the old city of Kano. Thus travellers, adventurers, merchants, scholars and statesmen have for many decades been trooping into the state to enjoy its shelter and warm hospitality.”

Ganduje assured the Guinea President, Conde, that Kano state government was ready and determined to work closely with the Republic of Guinea to leverage each other’s strength to mutual benefits.

Governor assured the Guinean President that, the door of his government are always opened to the great country of Guinea, adding that, “…we welcome your new innovations and suggestions on how we can partner with Guinea in all facets of development especially investment opportunities in both countries.”

Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi, while appreciating the move for such economic ties between Kano and Republic of Guinea, encouraged such and similar economic integration noting that could help in preventing Africans from migrating to other parts of the world, particularly Europe and other developed states in search of greener pasture.

“We must, as people try and see that this and similar initiatives see the light of the day. Emphasis should be more on Africa to Africa investment, than Africa to other places. Through this, we can make a significant impact on fighting poverty,” Emir highlighted.

Kano-born business moguls were present at the business discussion including Aliko Dangote of the Dangote Group of Companies  represented by Engineer Mansur Ahmed, Alhaji Tajuddeen Dantata represented Dantata Group of Companies, Alhaji Nafi’u Isyaka Rabi’u represented BUA Group of Companies, Chairman Azman Air, Alhaji Abdulmanafi Sarina, Executive Chairman of Ultimate Gas, Alhaji Auwalu Ilu and representative of Gongoni & W.J. Bush Company were all there.

Others that attended the business discussion were the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Dambatta, Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris and Ministers designate from Kano, Gen. (Rtd) Bashir Salihi Magashi and Muhammad Sabo Nanono were also present at the meeting.

Other young businessmen who took part in the meeting included Alhaji Audu Ladiyo, Chief Executive of A.A. Ibrahim Integrated Rice Mill, producers of Charriot Rice, an indigenous rice milling company and Alhaji Umar Ladiyo Ibrahim, Secretary of the Interim Management of Kantin Kwari market.  As well as Vice President of Kano Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture.

The District Head of Tofa, from Bichi Emirate and Chairman Tofa Group of Companies, Isyaku Umar Tofa was there at the discussion. So also Deputy National President of National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture, Alhaji Ahmed Rabi’u, Chairman Tanners Council, Lawan Sule Garo and National President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Alhaji Sani Umar was there among others.

In his contribution Eng. Ahmed from Dangote Group after assuring all that investment in Guinea was good and healthy, he also reveals that the Group has an investment in Guinea and wished to explore other opportunities to invest more there.