Coca-Cola Helps Foster Policy Dialogue in Nigeria

February 4, 2008

Nigeria's top policy makers, key private sector players, diplomats and international financial and investment advisers gathered in Abuja for the fourth Business Roundtable with the Government of Nigeria. The forum, organized annually since 2005 by the Geneva based Economist Conferences, provides an opportunity for the domestic and international business communities to engage with the government of Nigeria on the impact of policies on the operating environment.

In both 2007 and 2008, Coca-Cola Nigeria supported the forum as a lead. The theme for this year's forum was "Prioritising the economy: Forging on new streams." Cem Kumral, Coca-Cola Nigeria Business Unit (NBU) President, was a speaker on two panels including the main panel traditionally chaired by the Minister for National Planning.

Speaking on the topic "Changing perceptions about Nigeria: what still needs to be done," Cem noted that the poor state of infrastructure in Nigeria imposes substantial cost on production and weakens the country's international competitiveness. Ongoing reforms and the surge in oil prices provide Nigeria with an opportunity to rebuild institutions and develop human capital and infrastructure.