The Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Svein Baera, has said there is a need for Nigeria and Norway to strengthen their partnership in order to boost energy production.
Baera said this in Lagos during an event organised by the Nigerian Norwegian Chamber of Commerce to meet the new ambassador.
Speaking during the event, Baera reiterated that the two countries needed to work on energy production in other to boost production.
The NNCC is a not-for-profit bilateral chamber of commerce established to strengthen the partnerships between the two countries with regards to social, cultural and commercial interests.
The ambassador said, “Both Norway and Nigeria are countries with an emphasis on energy production and we have competence in that sector. I think the key issue is for both countries to produce enough energy for businesses to thrive and for people to have jobs and also for communities to thrive so that hospitals and schools would run. And I think this is one area the both countries could incorporate in the future,”
He said the partnership would be a win-win for the two countries.
“We visited a company that is delivering solar energy to businesses in Nigeria. They replace polluted energy with cleaner energy and this is a win-win for us. Because this is less expensive for the Nigeria companies and it is a good thing for pollution, air quality becomes better and it addresses climate change,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NNCC, Mr. Chijioke Igwe, said that both countries have a thriving relationship in the area of oil and gas.
“Nigeria and Norway enjoy a thriving relationship in the areas of oil and gas, agriculture, renewable energy, and technology. So the opportunities are there,” he said.
Igwe, who is also the Vice Chairman of Aveon Offshore, explained that the gathering was meant to create an opportunity for both countries to interact.
“What we try to do was to create an enabling environment for Nigeria and Norway companies to interact and explore opportunities together. In the areas of agriculture, re-enable energy among others. So the opportunities are there it is just for it to be worthwhile. So the purpose of the chamber is to create a platform where Nigeria and Norway companies interact and explore opportunities together,” he said.
Speaking on the plans of NNCC for the year, Igwe said that the chamber would be engaging government functionaries in the first quarter to discuss plans for the business community.
“This year, the chamber is looking to host series of events that would engage government functionaries to explain to us the business community what the government plans are,”
“So we are going to have breakfast sessions where we invite govern officials to come and talk to us about specific business opportunities that could be in those areas. Every quarter we would have something,” he concluded.
SOURCE: PUNCHNG
