The Federal
Government yesterday said the nation had witnessed improvement in the
global Gross Domestic Product ranking from number 44th in 2010 to 36th
in 2012, recording a 6.6 per cent economic growth,one of the fastest
growth rates obtainable anywhere in the world.
President
Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo,
said this while declaring open the 6th National Diaspora Day Conference
organised by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation in Abuja.
The conference had as its theme, ‘Diaspora Nigerians –Agents of investment and development.’
“We
have further reduced our fiscal deficit in the 2013 budget to 1.81 per
cent of the GDP and significantly cut domestic borrowing,” Jonathan
said.
He also applauded Nigerians in the Diaspora, who had
responded positively to the call for greater involvement in the nation
building process, adding that they should be very proud for their
remittances and investments in Nigeria’s fast-growing stock market, real
estate and other business ventures.
The President said, “We are
creating an enabling environment to attract both foreign and local
investors into the country. Nigerians in Diaspora must now respond
positively to the invitation to come home and contribute to the
development of this nation.
“As a concrete step towards achieving
our objectives, this year’s Diaspora conference should be greatly
focused and result-oriented. The success of countries such as India,
China, Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines, which have strategically
engendered the Diaspora as a mechanism to accelerate national
development, is an excellent model for us to understudy.
“The
Indian experience, in particular, has shown that Diaspora communities
are important sources of Foreign Direct Investment, trade linkages,
knowledge and technology transfer. Having lived abroad and embraced
international best practices, Nigerians in Diaspora possess the
requisite experience, expertise and contacts to contribute to all facets
of our national life.'' READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/41448.html
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