City of Miramar, Florida officials embark on trade mission to Nigeria

Ifeanyi Eduzor
As part of it’s efforts to build mutually beneficial business relationship between the City of Miramar, Florida, United States and Nigeria,top officials of the city led by the Vice Mayor, Alexandra .P. Davis, Thursday, August 10, 2023, embarked on a trade mission to Lagos State where they interacted with members of Ikeja Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.
Speaking at the event held at Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, the city’s Vice Mayor, Alexandra Davis who described her visit as her second time of coming to Africa explained that members of her team have visited Ghana, Senegal, Gambia and Sierra- Leone; saying that Nigerian business men and women and their counterparts in Miramar have a lot to benefit from the trade mission describing the city as home to top corporations from various industries and South Florida’s headquarters for aviation, manufacturing, biomedical and health care companies.
According to her, the city with a population of 140,000 residents and the 13th largest city in Florida, is a culturally diverse community that knows how to role out the red carpet for businesses, describing it as
the right business destination for Nigerian business men and women.
“Miramar is Gateway to the Americas and few minutes drive from two international airports and major seaports with a foreign trade zone.
” The city is also center of the nation’s 8th largest metropolitan area; leading aviation and health care industry hub and boosts of world class arts, cultural and recreational facilities with a cultural diverse population that has doubled over the last ten years with state of the art business infrastructure and an accredited economic development department which makes it attractive for business.
“The city offers a wide range of new business incentives with strong working relationships towards ensuring that businesses are equipped with the right resources and tools.
“Such partnership is geared towards helping small businesses grow in leaps and bounds beyond the shores of Nigeria if they tap into this opportunity”, she stated
Speaking further, she described Florida as a major gateway for merchandise trade between North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and other world regions and home to more than 58,000 exporting companies second only to California which makes the state and Miramar a perfect business destination for all.
Mary Estime Irvin, Vice Mayor, City of North Miami disclosed that job opportunities abound as investors will get value for their funds in the city.
In his remarks at the business round table forum, President of Ikeja Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Ambassador Dr Edward Olutoke while welcoming the delegation described poverty as the greatest problem in Africa appealing to them to help the continent fight poverty as it did during COVID-19 Pandemic.
” We’re happy receiving your delegation and we look forward to a mutual business relationship with your city.
“Here our organisation is known as poverty fighters because poverty is the greatest problem facing the African continent and if you can unite with us and fight it the way we fought COVID-19 Pandemic, things will be better for the continent.
“The partnership will also provide networking opportunities for both new and old business to thrive upon in the nearest future”, he said.
Ambassador Olutoke further reiterated the commitment of ICCIA towards solving some of the challenges confronting Nigerians using agriculture, entertainment and tourism as means to liberate the citizenry financially.
“In as much as travelling is key for humanity, we’ll like to work with you so that Nigerians can gradually grow their businesses, especially the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Olutoke also noted that there is need for issuance of visas to be made less cumbersome for those embarking on business trips to the United States as that will bring about ease of doing business among both countries.
Also speaking, President of women in international trade, Dr. Mrs. Blessing Irabor- Oza spoke about the need for the partnership to be a two-way affair which will make it possible for Nigerian business men and women not to encounter much difficulties visiting the United States on trade mission because of visa restrictions.
” Our organization was founded in the United States in 1989 to support women involved in international trade. A lot of our women here in Nigeria are into importation and exportation business; including agro business, arts and crafts and it’s important that the relationship will be a two way affair whereby as you have opportunity to come here and see what we’re doing, we should also have the same opportunity to visit the United States without much problem in obtaining visas as that’s the only way we can get the desired result”, she stressed.
In their different remarks, Dean Faculty of Tourism, Performing Arts and Films, Lagos State University Prof. Tunde Azeez and the Director of the University’s Consult Limited, Prof. Ibrahim Bakari were all full of praises to the team positing that they’re looking forward to a cordial business relationship between the City of Miramar and Lagos State.
The event was rounded up with exchange of gifts by the delegation and Ikeja Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture