The third edition of the Nordic-Nigeria trade conference has kicked off in Lagos at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Lagos.
The event is powered by Nigeria and the Nordic Embassies (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden). It also enjoys the support of the Nordic Council of
Ministers, Business Finland, and Business Sweden and boasts of being the largest Nordic collaboration in Africa.
According to Mr. Fredrik Åhsberg, Head of Political and Trade Section at the Embassy of Sweden in Abuja, the 2023 edition of the Nordic-Nigeria Connect, with the theme “Innovation for a Greener Future” would explore exportable Nordic sustainable solutions and innovations.
He said participants would not only be government representatives from the Nordics and Nigeria, but would include private and public business leaders, the diplomatic corps, media, and investors.
“They represent various industries in the Nordics and Nigeria, such as green energy, ICT and digitalisation, circular economy, waste management, public transport, and agribusiness”, he added.
Åhsberg noted that this year’s conference would build on the gains of last year’s, as combined export from the Nordics to Nigeria in 2022 was at $1.32 billion.
“In 2022, the Nordics imported from Nigeria a combined value of almost $1.72 billion. The organisers believe these figures have a great potential of increasing. The Nordics offer innovative solutions on some of the most pressing issues of today. The organisers are proud to showcase Nordic solutions on global problems and hope that
Nordic-Nigeria Connect can serve as a platform for new partnerships for innovation and a
greener future” he stated.
He added that year after year, the Nordic countries continue to top the lists of the most innovative, the most environmentally friendly, the most gender equal, the most democratic, and the happiest countries in the World.
Speakers at the event are; Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, Dr Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Mr. Dan Jørgensen, Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Mr. Jarno Syrjälä, Finnish Deputy Minister for International Trade, Mr. Per-Arne Hjelmborn, Director General for Trade at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Philip Ikeazor, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The fourth edition is slated for November 2025.
