Lagos, Nigeria - Nigeria’s Minister of National Planning Shamsudeen Usman has urged foreign investors to take advantage of the country’s huge market and the various reforms programmes, including the transformation agenda being pursued  by the present administration. “All that needs to be done to make the environment more investment friendly are been done. A lot of policies aimed at making government business to be more open, transparent and accountable are been put in place. This is to win investors' confidence,' Usman told journalists in Lagos. The minister was speaking ahead of the 17th Nigerian Economic Summit, holding from 10-12 Nov. in the nation's capital, Abuja, with the theme: 'Attracting Foreign Direct Investment Through Global Partnerships.'

He said the telecommunications sector, which has witnessed tremendous growth in recent times, is one area that can still accommodate more investments.

The minister also identified oil/gas, tourism, agro-allied, solid minerals and infrastructure development as some of the other sectors which has huge potentials for investments.

“Nigeria is the best kept secret for investment; this statement indeed was made by the US-EXIM Bank Chief Executive Officer during his visit. This only further shows that a lot of untapped potentials and opportunities are available, what is needed is to plug into it,' Usman said.

The annual economic summit is been organised by the private sector economic think tank, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), in collaboration with the public sector.

Participants in this year’s event are expected from the US, UK, China, Brazil, Malaysia, India and within the country.

Pana 26/10/2011