Abuja: Mr. Andreas Carlson, Sweden’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, has pledged his country’s commitment to investing in Nigeria’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Innovation hub sectors.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Carlson made the pledge during an interview in Abuja, on the sidelines of a three-day official visit by the Crown Princess of Sweden, Victoria D©sir©e, to Nigeria. The minister emphasized Sweden’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Nigeria in the areas of innovation, technology, sustainable transportation, agriculture, and green transition, leveraging Sweden’s reputation as one of the most innovative countries globally.
Carlson expressed enthusiasm about sharing knowledge and collaborating with Nigeria’s vibrant tech industry, highlighting the opportunities presented by the country’s youthful population. He noted potential areas of cooperation, including ICT, sustainable transport, mining, and agriculture. The minister’s visit to Nigeria alongside the Crown Princess was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and inaugurating a strategic trade office in Lagos to encourage Swedish companies to invest in Nigeria.
The Crown Princess underscored the growing bilateral cooperation between Sweden and Nigeria, highlighting sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable transport, and digital solutions as areas of collaboration. She inaugurated Sweden’s new trade office in Lagos, marking a significant step in the deepening partnership between the two nations.
Sweden’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Annika Hahn-Englund, emphasized the vast potential for further collaboration, particularly in digitalization, innovation, the green transition, and the creative industries. She mentioned that about 40 Swedish companies, including multinationals like Ericsson, Atlas Copco, SKF, Arla, Scania, and Volvo, are already present in Nigeria. With the new trade office in Lagos, increased trade and investment are anticipated.