Investors from six Latin American &  Caribbean countries have called on the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) to give them the opportunity to invest in Nigeria.

They are Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba, and Trinidad and Tobago. Mr Elio Oliva, leader of the delegation made the call in Abuja on Thursday when he paid a courtesy visit to Mr Mustafa Bello, NIPC‘s Executive Secretary.

“The purpose of this visit is to know more about NIPC and to know whether there can be investment opportunities in the country. There are a lot of opportunities to be exploited and we believe there are ways we can collaborate for the growth of businesses,’’ he said. Responding, Bello stressed the need for Nigeria to focus on the Caribbean and Latin American countries.

“These are the countries that are still developing in the area of businesses,” he said. He said the commission would set up a technical team to liaise with various countries seeking investment in Nigeria, and show that doing business in Nigeria did not mean going through rigorous process.

He said many foreigners still believed one must have a godfather or give bribe before getting an expatriate quota and business permit.

“We will also discuss those areas we can be of assistance, particularly where they are ignorant,” he said. A member of the group, Mr Robert Miller, a Jamaican, who highlighted the business opportunities in his country, said Nigerians needed more knowledge about international trade.

According to him, Jamaicans are very good in tourism, a sector he said Nigeria can use to boost trade.  He said his country could also collaborate with Nigeria in the area of medical facilities.