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The Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ) and China’s Zhongguancun Infogu Asset Management Co. Ltd have revealed intentions to roll out high-tech offerings, such as an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven speed train, aimed at improving trade logistics in Nigeria.
As per the Chinese delegation, the introduction of AI-enabled speed trains will establish Nigeria as a frontrunner in smart mobility and infrastructure advancement.
During the launch of the China-Nigeria ZGC Infovalley High-Tech Innovation Park and the Industry-Education-Research-Investment Projects symposium in Lagos on Tuesday, the delegation members highlighted that adopting technology and industrialization could bolster Nigeria's position within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the global marketplace.
The OGFTZ-organized event aims to reinforce trade relations between China and Nigeria while enhancing local businesses.
The Chinese delegation further presented strategies for penetrating the Nigerian market with state-of-the-art AI and deep-tech solutions, which they believe will stimulate growth across sectors like maritime, agriculture, transportation, and industrial development.
Director of the Bilateral Affairs Department at the Chinese Consulate in Lagos, Xu Fan, remarked that the initiative aims to streamline trade and investment regulations. He indicated that the objective is to enhance Chinese investors' comprehension of Nigeria’s industries while allowing Nigerian enterprises to access China’s advanced technology framework.
Fan underscored the integration of the OGFTZ with China’s ZGC Group, a strategy designed to augment Nigeria’s industrial capacity via technology transfer, innovation, and foreign exchange inflows.
He asserted that the OGFTZ has emerged as a key element of China-Nigeria economic collaboration, evolving into one of Nigeria’s most prominent industrial hubs. He noted that the free trade zone hosts over 140 registered companies, creating approximately 10,000 direct jobs and 18,000 indirect jobs within local communities.
In his address, Kevin Liu, the Deputy General Manager of the China-Africa Free Zone Company (OGFTZ), stated that the innovation and symposium aim to propel technological progress, expand trade and employment prospects, and assist in industrial upgrades, setting the stage for long-term growth in the region.
Similarly, Managing Director of InfoValley Industry-Education Integration Technology Co., Ltd, Chen Peter, stressed that the Nigeria-China collaboration goes beyond mere trade.
"This partnership is aimed at fostering innovation, skills development, and economic transformation, not only within Nigeria but throughout Africa. With appropriate policies and investment frameworks, this partnership could reshape Nigeria’s trading landscape," Peter remarked.
Additionally, Deputy President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Leye Kupoluyi, urged stakeholders to utilize knowledge-driven economies to propel advancement in critical sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, education, and renewable energy, while also expanding trade throughout Africa.
