NICCI President Ishmael Balogun Joins Global Investors and Policymakers at PEBEC’s 3rd FDI Roundtable in Abuja

The President of the Nigerian Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI), Ishmael Balogun, represented the Chamber at the 3rd Existing Foreign Direct Investors (FDI) Roundtable convened by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Secretariat in Abuja.

The high-level roundtable, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, brought together representatives of foreign missions, international and domestic investors, organized private sector leaders, and senior government officials for an in-depth dialogue on strengthening Nigeria’s investment climate and improving the ease of doing business in the country.

The engagement forms part of PEBEC’s ongoing efforts to sustain direct dialogue between policymakers and investors already operating in Nigeria, with a focus on addressing operational challenges and creating a more predictable and business-friendly environment for investment and expansion.

Opening the session on behalf of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of PEBEC, Kashim Shettima, Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a stable, transparent, and competitive business environment capable of attracting long-term investment and driving economic growth.

In her remarks, Zahrah Mustapha Audu, Director-General of PEBEC, highlighted several milestones achieved under the Council’s reform agenda, including the implementation of the Business Facilitation Act (BFA), progress in port reforms, improved subnational ease-of-doing-business rankings, and ongoing efforts to digitize and automate government processes. She emphasized that existing foreign investors remain critical partners in Nigeria’s economic development through their contributions to capital investment, job creation, technology transfer, and supply chain development.

The roundtable featured presentations and interactive discussions with key government officials responsible for major regulatory and policy frameworks affecting investors. Among them were Zacch Adedeji of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, and Olutunji Rilwan Disu, Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force.

Also contributing to the discussions was Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms and Minister of State for Finance-designate, who addressed ongoing fiscal and tax reforms aimed at improving tax certainty and strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness as an investment destination.

The roundtable further drew participation from prominent private sector stakeholders and leaders of business associations, including Jani Ibrahim, President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), alongside representatives of diplomatic missions, development partners, and multinational companies operating in Nigeria.

NICCI’s participation at the high-level dialogue reflects the Chamber’s continued commitment to promoting international trade, strengthening bilateral economic relations, and supporting policy frameworks that encourage sustainable investment flows into Nigeria. Through its engagement with government institutions and global investors, NICCI remains dedicated to fostering partnerships that enhance trade opportunities and economic cooperation between Nigeria, Indonesia, and the broader international business community.

The roundtable concluded with a strong call for sustained public–private sector collaboration, as stakeholders reaffirmed the importance of continuous dialogue, regulatory reforms, and institutional cooperation in strengthening investor confidence and positioning Nigeria as a competitive destination for global investment.