Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has urged African businesses to collaborate and keep investing in the continent.
According to him, this will enhance the continent’s growth and make its economy resilient to compete with the Western world.
Speaking at the ongoing 30th Anniversary of the Afreximbank, Mr Aliko Dangote said the bank is positioned and ready to work and do business by providing facilities to facilitate trade under the African Free Continental Trade Area, AfCFTA.
“If we keep investing in Africa and believe in our own business, Americans will not come all the way to come and develop our economy. We have to do it.
Our major job is that we are the drivers, whether good or bad,” He said.
Mr. Dangote, further called on African leaders to patronize goods and services within the continent particularly fertilizer products, cement, and oil products of the Dangote Group and that of others.
This move he said will help businesses grow and expand.
He also asked African countries to be deliberate in liberalising integration and allow for easy entry and exit of Africans.
He stated that if the continent was committed to boosting inter- and intra-African trade and investment opportunities, they should support visas on arrival.
“I think what, maybe, African countries need to do is that, why don’t you give Africans visas on arrival that will facilitate trade?” he suggested, sharing a scenario where one has to get a visa to get into “country A” as an African.
“I think what, maybe, African countries need to do is that, why don’t you give Africans visas on arrival that will facilitate trade?” he suggested, sharing a scenario where one has to get a visa to get into “country A” as an African.
Recounting a personal experience, the industrialist decried a situation where “we go with a British guy or maybe a Nigerian holding a British passport (and) he is allowed in”.
He added, “We were arguing, debating about my visa and I am the one with the money. If you are making life difficult for me, there is no way I will go and invest.”
