The Head of EU Mission to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Michel Arrion has identified the improvement of Nigeria’s business environment as a major area of discourse between EU Leaders and their Nigerian counterparts at the just concluded EU/Nigeria Business Forum.

Ambassador Arrion made this point in his goodwill message at the Forum which held under the theme: “Unlocking Opportunities for Diversification”. According to the Ambassador, the Forum which was organized jointly by the EU Mission and the 20 EU Member States was also an opportunity to explore the available channels for Nigeria to diversify her exports, increase foreign exchange and attract more Foreign Direct Investments (FDI).

“Nigeria is a key beneficiary of EU Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with the stock growing from 25billion Euros in 2011 to 30billion Euros by 2013” Arrion stated, while also emphasizing that the overall objective of the forum was to deepen the understanding of the Economic Partnership Agreement’s (EPA) role in supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification.

The effective development of agribusiness in Nigeria also formed the crux of the Forum, according to the Ambassador.