The Nigerian businessman brought up the idea of boosting trade and investment ties between Canada and Africa to the Prime Minister.
According to the Dangote Group, as seen on its X page, the meeting centered on developing economic cooperation via strategic alliances that can drive sustainable development, increase industrialization, and provide new investment possibilities across Africa.
“President/CE, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, held productive discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on advancing Canada-Africa trade and investment,” the statement released by the group read.
“The engagement underscores a shared commitment to fostering strategic partnerships that support sustainable economic development and mutual prosperity,” it added.
Reactions to this information online have been positive for the most part, with people applauding the Nigerian business tycoon for taking the initiative to represent Africa’s best interests.
Dangote’s pro-African business approach
Dangote, whose business interests span cement, fertilizer, petrochemicals, oil refining, food processing, and mining, has long advocated for stronger collaboration between Africa and global investors to accelerate the continent’s industrial transformation.
Every opportunity he gets, he ensures that Africa is being touted as a market with vast untapped potential.
This was highlighted by a recent speech he gave at the African Caucus, where he urged Africans to take the lead in financing the continent’s development, arguing that local investment is the strongest signal to attract global capital.
According to him, no one should be more willing to invest in the continent than those who inhabit it, thus having the ripple effect of drawing in more foreign investors.
“We have not been able to attract a lot of people to come and invest, and let me tell you here based on my experience, nobody will come on their own to invest in Africa unless Africans lead,” he said.
His engagement with the Canadian leader comes as African economies increasingly seek foreign investment to support infrastructure development, manufacturing, critical-minerals projects, and clean-energy projects.
On the flip side, several nations, including the UAE, China, the US and India, among other economic powerhouses, have been looking to deepen economic ties with Africa, and it would seem that Canada has joined these ranks.
Source: Africabusinessinsider