09 July 2012, Sweetcrude, ABUJA – NIGERIA’s Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has invited the Turkish government and businessmen to invest in the exploitation of opportunities in its steel sector.
He made the charge as he received a delegation of the Steel Exporters Association of Turkey led by its chairman, Mr. Namik Ekinci and accompanied by the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ali Rifat Koksal, in Abuja.
The Minister urged the group and the government of Turkey to invest in the country, assuring of government’s support to succeed in such venture.
“Though Nigeria still imports steel from Turkey, the present administration is keen in attracting investments into the country,” the minister said.
He added: “Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources and we want you to explore the opportunity in the country to invest your steel business here. Nigeria has a population of over 160 million people who are naturally talented.”
According to the minister, Nigeria imports steel not only from Turkey, but also from China and India due to the economic use of the product.
Ortom assured the delegation that the country would be a good market for their business to thrive.
The leader of the delegation had informed that Nigeria imports 10 per cent of steel produced in Turkey and that his country produced 24.1 million tonnes of steel in 2011.
This put the country in the 10th position in the world, but he said the country has moved up to the eighth position this year with its $17 million steel exportation to countries across the world.
