The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Friday, entered into partnership with investors from Turkey, under the aegis of Turquaz Health Tourism, with a target of creating one million jobs in Nigeria.
Under the partnership, the Turkish investors would collaborate with Nigerian businesses in the health, energy, infrastructure, education sectors, among others.
Partners in the deal signed various Memoranda of Understanding at the headquarters of the ACCI in Abuja on Friday to kick-start the partnership that would help reduce the level of unemployment in Nigeria.
Speaking on the sidelines of the MoU signing ceremony, the Vice President, Commerce, ACCI, Sijuade Kayode, said, “The investments we are looking at, as a result of this partnership, are in the health, education, infrastructure and other sectors.
“These investments are key to creating jobs and to boost the economy.So we are looking at about a million jobs from the investments that will come through this partnership.
“In the infrastructure sector alone, about 500,000 jobs can be created in a year. In the education sector we can create a million jobs from it. All we need the government to do is to provide the enabling environment through policies and laws to support the private sector to thrive.”
Kayode pointed out that “the government cannot create all the jobs, it can only create about 10 per cent. It is the private sector that creates the bulk of the jobs. So with this, the jobs that the government and our people want will be created.”
The ACCI vice president said the chamber had signed MoUs with the Turkish investors, adding that “It shall be taken to the next level by visiting Turkey next month to discuss this partnership further. This partnership is driven by the private sector, which is the builder of the economy.
Also speaking on the partnership, the Director-General, ACCI, Victoria Akai, further stated that the deal with Turquaz Health would see to the reduction in capital flight from Nigeria in the health sector.
“Nigeria spends several billions of dollars on medical tourism and this is another form of capital flight. With this partnership we will reduce this and ensure that our funds are spent and used here in Nigeria. So this is one of the reasons for this partnership,” she stated.
The Vice Chief Executive Officer, Turquaz Health, Naci Hotomaroglu, said investors from Turkey in the group and from the chamber of commerce in Ankara, Turkey, were delighted to partner the ACCI in various sectors.
“Whether you are a medical facility, travel agency, insurance provider, or governmental institutions seeking healthcare solutions, we offer collaborative opportunities that benefit everyone