Lagos State Government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Polish Government on ways to enhance the economic activities and development of the state in particular and that of the nation in general.
The State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu stated this today during a courtesy visit by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Her Excellency, Joanna Tarnawaska at the Round House, Alausa-Ikeja.
Speaking through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat who received the Ambassador and her team on behalf of the governor said the State is ready to partner with the Polish government through its Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperative to work with various companies in Poland for the overall development of both Lagos state and Nigeria as a whole.
He assured that the partnership between the two tiers of government and the Polish government will be very good as there is at the federal level, a government that is ready to listen and work on moving the country forward economically and financially and in all sectors of the economy.
Sanwo-Olu said, “We are happy to work with you. Your Head of Trade Office is here in Lagos. We will see what we can do. May be interacting through our Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, to see how we can partner with various companies in Poland. I was reading that you are producing things that are of similar qualities with Germany but the prices are lower, which makes sense for us to work with you. In this case, we will make sure that we elevate our economic activities and of course Nigeria”.
Speaking further, the governor emphasised that Lagos is the centre of all actions in the country and if the state government and the Polish government can partner, it will help uplift the country as there is no single ethnic group that is not in Lagos. “Lagos is the capital of Nigeria economically and financially, where business is and 48 percent of banks transactions in the country occur in Lagos with bank headquarters therein”, said the Governor.
Speaking earlier, the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Joanna Tarnawaska said the Republic of Poland has enjoyed a very good diplomatic relationship with the State Government and hopes to extend the relationship to bilateral trade.
She noted that, with the visit, they look forward to new opportunities and cooperation between Poland and Lagos State, noting that the President of the Country last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Polish Government.
“With the Head of the Foreign Trade, Ms. Justyna Sitarska and together we will look for a new opportunity for cooperation between Poland and the Lagos State Government”, the Ambassador added.
