Nigerian businessmen to benefit from new 50,000 UK Visas
Abuja - A New 50,000 five-year visa window has been opened for Nigerian businessmen wishing to do business in the United Kingdom (UK), by the British High Commission.
Besides, the High Commission has also introduced what it calls ‘Business Express’ programme to facilitate visa issuance to business people.
The initiative, according to the Director, UK Trade and investments, Mr. Peter Stephenson, was scripted to boost the bilateral trade relations between the two countries.
Addressing pressmen during an interactive session with a delegation from the Law Society of England and Wales, in Abuja yesterday, Stephenson, stressed that the country was committed to boosting trade ties between both countries. He was of the view that issuance of visa to businessmen was not as difficult as some people make it seem.
Calling on Nigerian businessmen to take advantage of the visa window to do business in the UK, he noted: “Our aim is to help companies realise their international business potential through knowledge transfer, and on-going partnership support.”
He added, “We are doing some good things to encourage businessmen in Nigeria to do business in the UK.”
And to solve the lingering electricity problem in the country, some English and Welsh solicitors have tasked the Federal Government to seek the services of international technical experts.
The Law Society of England and Wales are in the country to help solicitors enter the market for legal services in Nigeria by taking a trade mission to the country.
A statement from the Trade Development Section of the British High Commission explained that the trade mission by the Law Society offers an opportunity for English and Welsh solicitors to promote their firms directly to business partners and potential clients as well as building links with Nigerian firms and practitioners.
“It also aims to improve relations, understanding and mutual collaboration between the Nigerian and British legal professions. 18 law firms ranging from large city firms to medium-sized commercial practices and small niche practices are participating in the mission.
“The visit will incorporate a programme of briefings, meetings and networking opportunities and will be supported by Law Society Staff and British High Commission in Nigeria.”
President of the Law Society, Mr. Andrew Holroyd described the trade mission as another step towards developing further collaboration between the UK and Nigeria and maximising the potential of the recent economic progress.
He added: “Law firms of all sizes will benefit from the networking opportunities specifically tailored to suit their interests.”
The mission is coinciding with the third yearly Nigerian Bar Association’s section on business law conference in Abuja bringing participants into contact with hundreds of lawyers from Nigeria and West Africa.
Addressing the press, some of the lawyers from the Law Society called on government to truly enshrine the rule of law so that the business climate in Nigeria can be friendlier.
The lawyers, who praised the present government and the judiciary for promoting rule of law, also argued that if Nigeria is to grow economically, commercial law has a great role to play.
Speaking on the power sector component of the Nigeria’s investment climate, a member of the team from the Law Society, Mr. Akin Williams, asked the government of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to engage the technical services of international experts in the sector to avoid the mistakes of the past.
Identifying the power sector as a major factor in the promotion of investment, he commended government for opening up the investment environment.
He added: “It is important that the commitment to rule of law is sustained. This creates the enabling environment for business to thrive.
“But before the issue of power, infrastructure can be solved, rule of law must come to play to create the proper environment for technical partners to come in. Government should seek the services of foreign technical experts to help it solve its power problem.”
Source: The Guardian
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