In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, revealed this information.
According to Nkwocha, Shettima is expected to participate with global leaders representing more than 130 nations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. The primary focus of the gathering will be to engage in discussions centered around the theme of "High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity."
As per his statement, the vice president is anticipated to utilize the platform offered by the forum in order to attract investors for further developmental initiatives in Nigeria.
According to Nkwocha, it was stated that the Vice President is scheduled to engage in bilateral talks with various global leaders in order to advance Nigeria's trade and investment connections, aligning with the economic development objectives of the Tinubu government.
The forthcoming 2023 iteration of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will commemorate the decade-long existence of this global infrastructure development scheme, which was spearheaded by President Xi Jinping of China.
The initiative was adopted and implemented by the government of the People's Republic of China in 2013.
The effort aims to foster international collaboration and facilitate the development of infrastructure investments in around 70 nations spanning Asia, Africa, and Europe, utilizing both land and sea transportation networks.
The author recollected that in the year 2018, the former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, on behalf of the nation, entered into the Belt and Road cooperation agreement with the People's Republic of China.
Nigeria, along with other partner-countries globally, stands to gain advantages from this program, particularly in the realm of infrastructure projects encompassing ports, skyscrapers, trains, highways, bridges, airports, dams, and coal-fired power stations.
According to Nkwocha, the composition of the vice president's delegation for the forum comprises the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, and the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali.
The individuals mentioned are David Umahi, who serves as the Minister of Works; Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, who holds the position of Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment; Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation; and Michael Ohiani, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.
In a correlated development, Nkwocha stated that in alignment with the food security and diversification policies of the Tinubu administration, the vice president will depart from China to the United States of America, USA.
During his visit to the United States as a distinguished guest, Shettima is scheduled to deliver a keynote talk at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Food Prize-organized Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, which is set to commence on October 24th, 2023.
Additionally, the individual in question will be participating among various African world leaders, Heads of State, and Government officials who have previously delivered significant speeches at the Borlaug Dialogue.
The individuals mentioned encompass a range of notable figures, such as Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, recipients of the World Food Prize, including former Ghana President John Kufuor, Akinwunmi Adeshina, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, among others.
According to the media assistant, Shettima was anticipated to emphasize the reforms being implemented in the Nigerian Agrifood industry under the government of Tinubu.
The vice president intends to initiate discussions with various stakeholders, partners, and investors regarding potential investment prospects in Nigeria.
A series of meetings and engagements have been scheduled for the vice president, who is anticipated to return to the country following his obligations in the United States.
