Amb. Maria Laose poses with Dr. Puhringer for a photograph before the meeting

The Nigerian Ambassador in Austria, Ms Maria Oyeyinka Laose has called for more Austrian investment in the Nigerian economy. Ambassador Laose made the call in Linz while paying a courtesy call on the Governor of the Upper Austria Province, Dr. Josef Pühringer during her official tour of the province from 22nd to 24th April, 2012.

During the meeting with Governor, Ambassador Laose emphasized the positive role the Upper Austria Province was playing in the Nigerian economy through the representation in Nigeria by some of its top companies such as Voest Alpine, Steyr and S.Spitz, and called for more trade cooperation that will ensure greater mutual benefit for both parties.

As one of Austrian provinces with big investors in Nigeria, she said, Upper Austria and Nigeria have a significant relationship that should be further exploited particularly in the Agro-allied industry where the Federal Government was putting in much effort to revamp the sector in order to ensure food security and creation of employment. She therefore called on the Upper Austrian Province to take advantage of this Nigeria?s new thrust in Agriculture by investing in the cultivation of raw materials required by the companies in Upper Austria. Investing in the cultivation of cotton in Nigeria, she said for instance, could also be exploited for mutual benefit since Upper Austria was home to weaving and spinning companies that were supplying the Vorarlberg province with yarn used in the production of Lace and Embroideries of which Nigerians were major users. We have acres of fertile land in Nigeria to be cultivated, while over 60 per cent of the Nigeria populace are youths, who are well educated and constitute a workforce, and the number is increasing, she told her interlocutors in Linz.

Dr Pühringer expressed satisfaction Nigeria was the largest market for one of the product from the province of Upper Austria, Power Horse Energy drink marketed by S.Spitz. He hinted that other areas of possible cooperation would be renewable energy, waste and water management and automotive industry in which the province of Upper Austria was playing a leading role in the country. Upper Austria, he revealed to the Ambassador, contributed thirty percent of Austrias total export globally and was always on the lookout for new horizons.

While in the province, Ambassador Laose also met with the Vice President of the Upper Austria Economic Chambers, Mag. Ulrike Rabmer-Koller and Mag. Stefan Schofl, Head of the Export Unit. She held meetings with the Upper Austria Police Director, Dr. Walter Wodholm where it was confirmed to her that Nigerians in Upper Austria were law abiding. Ambassador Laose also held a town hall meeting with a cross section of Nigerians in Linz where she commended the orderliness, hospitality and the purposefulness of the community.