Shettima to represent Tinubu at 3rd Belt and Road Initiative Forum in China

*The Federal Government says Nigerian Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who will be participating in the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative Forum, scheduled to hold October 16-18, 2023, in Beijing, to woo investors for more developmental projects, is also expected to participate in AfDB, World Food Prize-facilitated Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, in Iowa, United States

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Vice-President (Sen.) Kashim Shettima, will depart Abuja, FCT, Sunday, October 15, 2023, for Beijing, in China, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the upcoming 3rd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum, scheduled to hold October 16-18 this year.

Shettima will be joining world leaders from over 130 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America at the Forum to deliberate on the theme, “High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity”.

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), in a statement Sunday disclosed the Nigerian Vice-President is expected to avail Nigeria of the platform provided by the Forum to woo investors for more developmental projects.

Nkwocha stated Shettima would also hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to promote Nigeria’s trade and investment relations in line with the economic development agenda of the Tinubu administration.

The 2023 Edition of the BRI will mark the 10th Anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), championed by the President of China, Xi Jinping, as an initiative for global infrastructure development strategy.

The statement noted the initiative, which was adopted and launched by the Government of the Peoples Republic of China 2013, seeks international action to enhance cooperation and promote infrastructure investment in nearly 70 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe through land and maritime routes.

It is equally stated that in 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari, on behalf of Nigeria, signed the Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China.

Nkwocha said: “Nigeria and other partner-countries across the world are to benefit from the initiative in areas of infrastructure investments, such as ports, skyscrapers, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, dams and coal-fired power stations.”

The delegation of the Vice President to the Belt and Road Initiative Forum includes the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf M. Tuggar; the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Abubakar Bagudu; the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali; the Honourable Minister Of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi; and the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite.

Others are the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, and the Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Michael Ohiani.

Meanwhile, in pursuance of the food security and diversification policy of the Tinubu administration, the Federal Government stated the Vice-President would from China, depart for the United States (US), where as the special guest, he is expected to deliver the keynote address at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Food Prize – facilitated Norman E.Borlaug International Dialogue slated to commence October 24, 2023.

According to the Presidential media aide Vice-President Shettima will be joining other distinguished African international leaders and Heads of State/Government, who in the past had delivered Keynote Addresses at the Borlaug Dialogue.

They include late former United Nations Secretary – General and AGRA Founder, Kofi Annan; World Food Prize Laureates; Ghana President, John Kufuor and AfDB President, Akinwunmi Adeshina; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Presidents Felix Tshishiked and Joaquim Chissano; Joyce Banda; Ameenah Gurib – Fakim and IFAD President, Kanayo Nwanze, amongst others.

“He is expected to highlight reforms being instituted in the Nigerian Agrifood sector by the Tinubu administration and engage several stakeholders, partners and investors in opportunities for investments in Nigeria,” said Nkwocha in the statement.

Several meetings and engagements have been slated for the Vice-President, who is expected to be back in Nigeria after his commitments in the US.