Kalu Leads High-level Parliamentary Roundtable on Trade and Investment to Canada
By Core Reporters
In a strategic move to deepen bilateral ties, the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, s set to lead a High-level Parliamentary Roundtable on Trade and Investment to Ottawa, Canada soon.
Speaking during a courtesy call by a Canadian delegation led by the Chargé d’affaires, Ms Lisa Stockley in Abuja on Thursday, Kalu noted that Nigeria is undergoing deliberate transformation driven by economic diversification, infrastructure renewal, agricultural modernization, digital innovation, culture, arts and tourism, and industrial expansion.
He said the transformation aligns closely with Canada’s strengths in clean technology, ICT, energy, education, infrastructure, agribusiness, and value-added manufacturing.
The Deputy Speaker stressed that parliamentary engagement is essential in nurturing stronger democratic institutions, promoting accountability, supporting trade-enabling legislation, and encouraging deeper people-to-people understanding.
He said: “As legislators, we understand that diplomacy is not only conducted by governments and executives, but also by parliaments. Parliamentary engagement remains essential in nurturing stronger democratic institutions, promoting accountability, supporting tradeenabling legislation, and encouraging deeper people-to-people understanding.
“It is in this spirit that the 10th House of Representatives warmly propose the prospect of a High-level Parliamentary Roundtable on Trade and Investment around July/August in Ottawa, Canada to be ably led by me. We view this initiative as timely, strategic, and highly beneficial.
“Such a roundtable would provide a valuable platform for lawmakers, policymakers, investors, and private sector leaders from both countries to deliberate on practical measures to strengthen trade and investment laws, policies, and regulatory frameworks that drive bilateral economic cooperation..
“The Objectives of this Roundtable include: to strengthen legislative and diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Canada; to review and align trade and investment laws, policies, and regulatory frameworks; to enhance legal protections and ease of doing business across both countries and to promote parliamentary diplomacy as a tool for economic cooperation.
“We humbly request your partnership to make this roundtable a success, through facilitation of necessary stakeholders from the Canadian Government and Parliament, business leaders, policy experts and other major stakeholders to be present at this HighLevel Roundtable. We also welcome your plans and priorities as it relates to bilateral economic engagements”.
Kalu called for partnership from Canadian stakeholders to make the roundtable a success.
He requested facilitation of key participants from the Canadian Government and Parliament, business leaders as well as policy experts.
The Deputy Speaker assured that the 10th House of Representatives stands ready to play its constitutional role in creating an enabling legislative environment that supports investment, economic competitiveness, innovation, and inclusive prosperity, also reaffirming the Nigerian Parliament’s readiness to engage constructively with Canadian counterparts to advance a new chapter of parliamentary and economic cooperation.
“We are particularly encouraged by ongoing conversations around the Foreign Investment Promotion Agreement (FIPA), Protection framework and broader efforts to improve the investment climate between our countries. A rules-based, transparent, and predictable environment remains critical for attracting long-term capital and enterprise.
“Let me assure you that the 10th House of Representatives stands ready to play its constitutional role in creating an enabling legislative environment that supports investment, economic competitiveness, innovation, and inclusive prosperity as it aligns with the Legislative Agenda of the House.
“Nigeria values its partnership with Canada. We see immense promise in what lies ahead. Together, we can transform existing goodwill into stronger institutions, greater trade flows, more jobs for our people, and deeper prosperity for future generations.
“As we look forward to the proposed roundtable in Ottawa, I reaffirm the readiness of the Nigerian Parliament to engage constructively and strategically with our Canadian counterparts in advancing a new chapter of parliamentary and economic cooperation”, Kalu stressed.
In her remarks, the Chargé d’affaires, Lisa Stockley assured the Deputy Speaker and the House of Representatives of their support and cooperation in their investment efforts.
“Thank you very much. We deeply appreciate the relationship between Canada and Nigeria. We definitely love to assist your investment efforts and ask for whatever you have in mind that you let us know as soon as possible. There will be things that we can assist with, to continue to give you our cooperation. We have a strong relationship, a long-standing relationship with you, and we look forward to continuing it and continuing to grow.
“As you know, we’re talking with many countries on our bilateral relationships and certainly, Nigeria is among strong partners in trade. There are things I know we’ve talked about that we need to continue discussing in order to build an extreme relationship and looking forward to exploring them”, she said.
