President Bola Tinubu departs Abuja on Monday to attend the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India, on the special invitation of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Voice of Nigeria reports.
The Nigerian government also says it is consulting widely to ascertain the benefits and risks of joining the G20.
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These were made known in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
According to the Statement, the President will deliver keynote addresses at both the Nigeria-India Presidential Roundtable and the Nigeria-India Business Conference on the sideline of the summit.
The government added that once consultations are concluded, the government will decide whether or not to apply to join as appropriate.
The statement added that President Tinubu’s participation at the G-20 Summit in India is in furtherance of Nigeria’s objectives.
“While Nigeria’s membership of the G-20 is desirable, the government has embarked on wide-ranging consultations to ascertain the benefits and risks of membership.”
Ngelale added that the discussion on Nigeria’s membership at the G20 is consistent with the desire of President Tinubu to democratize foreign policy.
It further stated that the consultations are to articulate policy formulation and implementation through a Whole-of-Society and a Whole-of-Government approach that achieves the nation’s long-term strategic objectives.
“Once consultations are concluded, the government will decide whether or not to apply to join as appropriate. The participation of President Tinubu at the G-20 Summit in India is in furtherance of this objective,” the statement added.
The statement also stated that the President aims to leverage the platform to attract global capital and promote increased foreign direct investments in key labour-intensive sectors of Nigeria’s economy for job creation and revenue expansion.
“The CEO Roundtable will be attended by leading industrialists in the Indian private sector, Nigerian industrialists, as well as senior government officials from both countries.“
It further added that President Tinubu will use the opportunity to highlight Nigeria’s attractiveness as an investment destination, specifically outlining his cross-sectoral reform plan as encapsulated by the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Given the President’s renowned experience in attracting investment to Lagos State, leading industrialists have sought separate private engagements with him at the summit.”
The statement disclosed that the President’s itinerary will feature bilateral meetings with a cross-section of world leaders from four different continents, representing both G-20 and non–G20 countries.
These engagements, the statement said are geared towards strengthening bilateral economic, trade, and investment partnerships for mutual benefit.
At the G20 Summit, the Nigerian leader is expected to share Nigeria’s perspective on the theme, “One Earth-One Family-One Future,” which speaks to the global unity required to address the challenges facing humanity and the planet.
The Group of Twenty comprises 19 countries namely, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States and the European Union.
The G20 summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi-India between Sept 9th -10th, 2023.