Mr Masudur Rahman, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria, has solicited for collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to explore opportunities in the nation’s various sectors.
Rahman, who spoke when he visited the Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya in his office in Abuja on Monday, said that the collaboration would help to grow the economies of both countries.
He said that Nigeria and Bangladesh could collaborate in the textile, pharmaceutical, agriculture/farming, energy and Information Communication Technology (ICT) industries.
The high commissioner said that Bangladesh had comparative advantage in most of the sectors, while entrepreneurs in Nigeria could tap into experiences of their contemporaries in the country.
He said the partnership would also improve the intra-trade volume of both country, noting that his country has experienced progress in micro-economic growth.
”Nigeria government will be holding an SME multilateral platform event in October.
”We look forward to enhancing the intra trade between the countries because there will be huge opportunities from the event.
”As a diplomat, bureaucrat, I am convinced that entrepreneurs will find their way out to do meaningful businesses that can help the two economies and bring about growth,”Rahman said.
Responding, Fasanya said that Nigeria’s economy was similar to Bangladeshi economy.
The director-general said that SMEs in the country had a lot to learn from their Bangladesh counterpart.
He said that the country would be hosting SME summit in October to facilitate exchange of ideas.
Fasanya said that both countries could collaborate in various areas to explore the benefits to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The director-general said that the proposed SME centre would help coordinate activities for exchange of ideas, innovative technology and markets.
”We have a lot to learn from you because you have been able to develop faster and in terms of economic variables in Bangladesh.
”We will look at all areas that we can collaborate,” he said.
