Under the theme: “Activating Viable Partnerships for Economic Growth & Sustainability” the 2024 edition of Nigeria Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum (NBLBF24) will hold in Brussels on 18 – 20 September. Anchored by CBL-ACP Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with carefully selected corporate entities, and supported by the Embassies of Belgium and Nigeria in Abuja and Brussels, a unique feature of this edition is that the main event will be preceded by two Afterwork Unveiling Business Receptions in Lagos on Monday 22 April & Abuja on Thursday 25 April. 

Justifying the kick-off events as it were, Secretary General of CBL-APC, Thomas De Beule explained that business dynamics between Belgium & Luxembourg (BELUX) in one bloc and Nigeria on the other bloc is witnessing some critical evolution. Petrochemicals, machinery, and pharmaceuticals have dominated the trade landscape for decades. With the diminishing value of oil and indeed ongoing efforts of Nigeria to reorient its economy away from oil dependency, it is tempting to assume that oil & gas trade is dead. The fact that the largest oil refinery in Africa & Europe is being built in Lagos Nigeria, contradicts the assumptions around the death of oil. If anything, it throws up new investment opportunities in the sector up to the medium term. In the intervening transition period, the Business Forum believes in the viability of Oil & Gas while certainly creating opportunities for deeper interaction in the non-oil sector. 

Mr De Beule identified the focus of the Business Forum and the allied sectors, namely:

Agriculture - Food – Beverages; Medical - Pharmaceuticals – Medical Devices - Medical Equipment; Engineering – Construction – Manufacturing – Infrastructure – Real Estate; Technology – Innovation – Creative Industry; Oil & Gas – Power – Renewable Energy; Waste management – Waste Collection - Waste recycling – Medical Waste; Mining - Commodities – Mineral Resources; Logistics – Port & Harbor – Inland Transportation.    

The Ambassador of Belgium to Nigeria H.E. Peter Leenbregt in his remarks said, “We rejoice in the prospect of a Nigeria Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum to be held from 18 to 20 September in Brussels and will gladly hear out Thomas De Beule about the CBL ACP plans in that regards. As you may know, Belgium does not only host most of the EU institutions on its soil but is currently also holding the rotating presidency of the EU Council, until end of June this year. This means lots of additional VIP travel between Belgium and Nigeria. And it is only befitting that the EU’s Business Forum in Abuja and your Business Forum focused on Nigeria in Brussels are organized with only the summer holidays in between them both – almost back-to-back, one could say.”

He added “We were always very enchanted with the strong business focus in the work of the immediate past Nigerian ambassador Obinna Onowu in Brussels and are hopeful that his successor will put an equal emphasis on it. From the point of view of our Embassy, too, things are crystal-clear in this regard: Nigeria is not so much a partner country for development cooperation as so many other ones in the sub-region; it is a middle-income country open for and eager to do business.”

The Afterwork Unveiling Business Receptions affords the organizers the opportunity to lay out the intent of the Business Forum, demonstrate its value to the industry, and intentionally activate participation. Strictly by invitation, both events target players in the focused sectors as well as deal brokerage experts, business attorneys, policy makers, and heads of business-related agencies. 

Lagos, Monday 22 April 2024, 6:30pm – The Lagos Afterwork Reception event will hold at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island.

Abuja, Thursday 25 April 2024, 6:30pm – The Abuja Afterwork Reception event will hold at the Official Residence, Ambassador of Belgium in Nigeria.   

On the format of the main event, Collins Nweke, Consultant on Strategic Communications noted that it would hold from 18 – 20 September Brussels, Belgium. It will bring together, business stakeholders in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Nigeria, with a view to encouraging investments into diverse focus sectors. The event will feature business to business and business to government meetings. There will be presentations on investment opportunities in the core markets, investment promotion, import, and export agencies as well as industry leaders. Given its size and strategic geographical location in Africa, experts will be present to unfold winning strategies, navigating the regulatory landscape, gaining market access or consolidating existing presence in Nigeria.

Expected Outcome of the Business Forum, according to it Consultant on Partnership, Dominiek Viaene is to empower more viable and sustainable partnerships between the business entities in the focal markets and ultimately, stronger and sustainable trade and investment relations and business development and cooperation.