By: Joy Odor/ Abuja
The Chief Medical Director of India hospital in Nigeria, Dr. Shabinal Hassan has advised Nigeria goverment to put in a little boost in its private medical practice that will bring the solution to the increasing number of medical tourism by Nigerians.
He gave the advice at the 2020 Stakeholders India and Nigeria Business Forum meeting where business opportunities emanating from the areas of power & renewable energy, agriculture & agro-food processing, telecommunications, mining, health, education, technology and capacity building co-operation relevant to Nigeria’s developmental needs in Abuja Tuesday.
Dr. Shabinal Hassan said about thirty thousand Nigeria trained medical doctors are currently working outside the shores of the country.
He said the friendship between Nigeria and lndia is mutual understanding, saying Nigerians are the most amicable and hospitable people in the world.
According to him, for a good business relationship, there should be quality, amicability and trust, noting that no country enjoys a greater and gennuie goodwill in Nigeria more than lndia.
Delivering her address, the Director General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Victoria Akai was of the opinion that constant training and updating of personnel are the major ways of improving and sustaining India and Nigeria economic relations and advocated a boost in the private and public sectors of the country to facilitate simultenous development.
“I am thankful for the organizers of today event by bringing us together to brainstorm on inssues in our relationship and how best we can fashion out strategy, innovative ways and intentions that would add to our perspectives.
“As one of the trading partners in Nigeria, India has demonstrated that there are many lessons to learn form them and Nigeria stand to benefit immessly from working closely with lndia.
“Again, lndia had given political support in areas like defence, agriculture, power, automobile and air space” she said.
On his part, the Minister of Communication and Digital Ecomony, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, while affirming that Nigeria has always benefitted from India in capacity building, urged participants to utilise the benefits of the meeting to better their businesses.
“I begin by commending the effort of lndia High Commissioner for facilitating this lndia and Nigeria bussines forum to take place in Abuja because it is indeed very strategic place, particular looking at where the Forum is going to discuss.
“My coming here is an endorsement for the program that is taken place and to use the opportunity as well to encourage the stakeholders to ensure that we derived maximum benefit from the forum.
“I am passionate on the successes recorded by the India goverment most especially on the digital economy and lCT” he stressed.
Speaking on air space in Nigeria, the Cheif Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema lamented that the major hinderances to Nigeria and lndia in the huge business is lack of air connectivity in the whole Africa Region.
He however commended President Muhammadu Buhari for given Air Peace the status of flight carrier to lndia which would commence in the next four month while appealing to Nigerians to learn to always support their follow Nigeria business.
“Within four years of existence, Air Peace Airline has created 3,216 direct job and the least paid staff are the cleaners with 40,000 a month.
“Air Peace started operations in November 24, 2014 with 7 air craft even though Air Peace came in at a time of commotos.
“It has 28 aircraft flying and 22 brand new plane on order that will start operations from May this year. We are going to receive 13 new planes from the 22 we order soon, l assure you that the safety of aircraft is as good as maintaince, not necessarily how brand new it is” Mr Onyema noted.
