As the London International Shipping Week kicks off, Nigeria will be the focus of attention on Tuesday 12 September 2023 at the week’s highlight event for Africa, the West Africa Shipping Assembly (WASA).
Hosted by Nigerian specialist maritime law firm Akabogu Law, the WASA event is uniquely curated to highlight Nigerian and West African shipping market opportunities from realistic, practical perspectives at the London International Shipping Week.
According to a press statement issued yesterday by Senior Partner, Akabogu Law, Dr. Emeka Akabogu, WASA is part of a strategic initiative to boost investment and operations in West African shipping markets in the emerging regime of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
“It is an opportunity to showcase the potentials of Nigeria’s maritime sector to the world, with the purpose of attracting investments, and sustainably managing such interests to optimize value for Nigeria and investors.”
“With Nigeria paying increasing attention to wealth creation from the maritime industry by the recent establishment of a new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, WASA will harness available resources and provide the type of guidance that is necessary for win-win outcomes.”
“It will also strategically position the country’s maritime industry to take advantage of the significant market potentials inherent in the Gulf of Guinea, together with the shipping lanes of West and Central Africa,” Akabogu said.
Scheduled to hold at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London, the event’s two plenary sessions will traverse markets and opportunities, legal frameworks and regulatory compliance, risk profiles and challenges, investment and finance, shipping assets and infrastructure, maritime security and safety, in addition to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
There will also be a mix of experienced speakers from Africa, Europe and United Kingdom leading discussions, with participation expected from all major shipping sub-sectors.
News Diet has learnt that several Nigerian port operators have signed up for the 2023 London International Shipping Week with keen interest in WASA with a view to market their operations on the global scene.