– Seeks offshore palm oil business in Nigeria
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigeria-Indonesia Chamber of Commerce has revealed strategic plans to strengthen bilateral trade, ease visa access, and position Nigerian businesses for greater participation in the global value chain, particularly ahead of the Nigeria-Indonesia Trade Fair scheduled for later this year in Jakarta.
Speaking at a high-level business forum hosted by the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, PHCCIMA, the President of the Nigeria-Indonesia Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Ishmael Balogun, said the Chamber is pushing for Visa on Arrival status for Nigerians traveling to Indonesia, VOA, as part of its effort to deepen trust and cooperation.
“We are close to getting Visa on Arrival for Nigerians. Indonesia has seen a different Nigeria through us. Yes, there are a few bad eggs that give us a bad name, but we continue to tell them we are not all like that. Nigerians are good, hardworking people.”
He assured that all members of the Chamber traveling for the Trade Fair will receive 100% visa guarantees. “So far, we have no single record of japa (absconding) under the Chamber’s banner. That trust has opened more doors,” he said.
Balogun revealed that Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has endorsed the upcoming Nigeria-Indonesia Trade Fair and directed active participation from relevant government agencies.
“We have approached Dr. Shettima, and he has given the necessary marching orders to MDAs. Already, four ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as NEPC, NACCIMA, Abuja Chamber, SMEDAN and the Organized Private Sector are aligned for the Jakarta event,” he said.
Balogun emphasized that the focus of the Indonesia summit would be business partnerships and real investment deals, not ceremonial engagements. “The objective of joining city chambers is interaction. If there’s no interaction, then there’s no use. We want business between both countries to become bigger and better,” he added.
In a call for pragmatic policymaking, Balogun advised Nigerian business leaders and government officials to emulate working global models.
“Nigerian businesses and the Government of Nigeria should at least learn to copy and paste what works elsewhere. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” he said bluntly.
He also urged entrepreneurs to structure their businesses properly, saying: “Try and ginger yourself. Get your businesses registered, get an accountant and a lawyer. Run your operations with recognized processes. That’s how you benefit from chambers.”
During an interactive session, Ikechukwu Amajuoyi, a big time player in oil palm business, raised urgent concerns around technology gaps and standardization in Nigeria’s palm oil sector, which he said are limiting export potential.
“We got an international order to supply 10,000 tons of palm oil, but we’re stranded. Even attempts to source from Malaysia didn’t work because the buyer insisted it must come from Nigeria. The problem is that our local producers don’t meet export standards.”
He requested training and technology support from Indonesia to boost capacity and meet global quality benchmarks.
Others including Ofon Udofia, executive secretary, Institute of Export Operations and Management, IEOM, asked to know if there were plans to close deficits in non-oil export between Nigeria and Indonesia. Others asked about legal services and insurance in the partnerships.
In response, Balogun disclosed ongoing talks with Wilmar, a leading Indonesian agribusiness giant.
“Wilmar is interested in Nigeria. They are running out of land in Indonesia and looking to Africa. Nigeria is a focus. Offshore production and training are part of the scheme,” he confirmed.
Also speaking, PHCCIMA President Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, the first female president of the chamber since 1957, described the Indonesia opportunity as “big and extensive.”
“We’re here today because we want our members’ businesses to grow. When your businesses grow, the chamber makes more money, and I can increase subscriptions,” she joked.
Nwoga commended the event sponsor and Head of PHCCIMA Missions Desk, Tari Membre of Now Travels and Tours, for “sacrificing to make this event a success.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Balogun assured that business-to-business interactions between Nigerian and Indonesian companies will commence online in advance of the Trade Fair.
“There will be B2B meetings before the Jakarta event. One week won’t be enough for all that must be achieved,” he said.
He further hinted that Indonesian investors in the food and beverage sector are eyeing Port Harcourt as a destination. “By what we’re doing now, Indonesian businesses will come to Port Harcourt,” he noted.
