The Nordic Embassies (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers, Business Finland, and Business Sweden are proud to have joined forces in creating the largest Nordic collaboration on the African continent to leverage the Nordic brand in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy: Nordic-Nigeria Connect.
Year after year, the Nordic Countries continue to top the lists of the most innovative, the most environmentally friendly, the most gender equal, the most democratic, and the happiest countries in the World. This is reflected not only in our societies but also in our exports.
The 2023 edition of the Nordic-Nigeria Connect — with the sub-title Innovation for a Greener Future – is discussing exportable Nordic sustainable solutions and innovations in Lagos, Nigeria. Participants include not only government representatives from the Nordics and Nigeria, but also private and public business leaders, the diplomatic corps, media, and investors. They represent various industries in the Nordics and Nigeria, such as green energy, ICT and digitalisation, circular economy, waste management, public transport, and agribusiness.
– The combined export from the Nordics to Nigeria in 2022 was at USD 1.32 billion. In 2022, the Nordics imported from Nigeria to a combined value of almost USD 172 billion. The organisers believe these figures have a great potential of increasing.
- The Nordics offer innovative solutions on some of the most pressing issues of today. The organisers are proud to showcase Nordic solutions on global problems and hope that Nordic-Nigeria Connect can serve as a platform for new partnerships for innovation and a greener future.
High-level speakers include:
- – Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, innovation, and Digital Economy, Federal Government of Nigeria
- – H.E. Mr. Dan Jorgensen, Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy
- – H.E. Mr. Jarno Syrjala, Finnish Deputy Minister for international Trade
- – H.E. Mr. Per-Arne Hjelmborn, Director General for Trade at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
- – Mr. Philip Ikeazor, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
The Nordic-Nigeria Connect Trade Conference has been hosted in Lagos biannually since 2019, making this-the third edition. The fourth edition is slated for November 2025. Organisers are the Embassies of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, and the Trade and investment Councils of Finland (Business Finland) and Sweden (Business Sweden). The Conference is supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
