France has committed to invest €1.2 million to support Nigeria’s entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural sector. This bold bilateral trade commitment was made by The Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, France, HE. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, said this at a media parley in Lagos.
According to her it has become imperative to reinforce diplomatic ties with Nigeria in the coming months, adding that Nigeria is an important player in tackling regional challenges and so there is the need to discuss peace and stability in this parts.
She stated that within her five day visit to Nigeria, she also met with the President, ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray and discussed issues pertaining to regional security and development. They signed two finance intervention totalling €20 million to provide ECOWAS strong support in the areas of agriculture.
She explained that her visit was to experience the inauguration of the president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, representing French President, Emmanuel Macron and European Union.
She added that during her stay she has had interactions with Nigerian citizens and the experience has revealed the great energy and creative the people.
“It’s clear that anglophone African countries are just as important partners as Francophonie African countries,” she added.
According to her, Nigeria is France first trading partner in sub saharan Africa with trade exchange worth €4.2 billion in 2022.
She said that partnership in the field of creative and cultural industry was at the heart of her visit, adding that they aim to attract more French films to Nigeria.
“There are about 80 French films in Nigeria and we need to do more. We want to keep intensifying our own economic presence in the country and we want to attract more French films to Nigeria.
“We know that culture can be a great opportunity for job creation and economic development. In France we invest a lot in this field. It is a policy that had been existing for a number of years.
Here in Nigeria we have our wide network of 10 Alliance Françaises across the nation, which can be a center for dialogue between the artists,” she said.
