BY Olapeju Olubi
For audaciously carrying out aggressive route expansion agenda, including hoisting Nigeria’s flag on the Lagos-London corridor, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Honourable Gaston Alfonso Browne, has applauded Air Peace and asked the flag carrier not to rest on its oars.
Browne, who gave the commendation at a high-level Business Forum/Dinner which was held on Friday, May 3, 2024, at the Delborough Hotel, VI, Lagos, used the opportunity to woo Nigeria’s business community to invest in his twin-island Caribbean nation.
The forum had in attendance captains of industry, the Management of Air Peace, former NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, ex Nigerian footballer, Segun Odegbami, aviators and representatives of the Lagos State Government.
The Prime Minister, who lauded Dr Allen Onyema, the Chairman of Air Peace, for his revolutionary business tactics and unflinching determination to change the narrative, said his country looks forward to when Air Peace will begin scheduled direct flights into Antigua and Barbuda as this will drive socio-economic development and strengthen bilateral relations between both nations.
He noted the partnership between his government and Air Peace for the establishment of LIAT 2020 Airline in Antigua and Barbuda which will commence operations in the Caribbeans soon.
He expressed appreciation to Onyema for taking the big step of investing in the Caribbean nation.
Browne detailed the business opportunities that abound in his country and implored the Nigerian business community to come and invest, noting that Antigua and Barbuda is safe and has an incentivised business environment.
He stressed the Investor Immigration Programme which was developed to grant citizenship to foreign nationals who invest in the country.
He also listed energy, education, pharmaceuticals, banking, real estate, tourism, fintech, agriculture, manufacturing and blockchain as some of the sectors needing investment, adding that the country has impressive development indices with low inflation rate.
Browne said the key objective of his country is to strengthen the relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and Nigeria as well as the rest of Africa.
He stated: “I believe Africa has a significant amount of resources, and literally every African country can become a developed country. I am of the view that African countries can do even better than the Republic of China.
“Our aspiration for Nigeria is to see Nigeria become a developed country within the next decade or two. And we want to make sure that we are an early mover in the Caribbean to establish close linkages with Nigeria to increase trade and investment. The Caribbean and Africa must unite and work together to bring prosperity to our people.”
Responding, Onyema, in his opening remarks, called on the governments of Nigeria and Antigua and Barbuda to explore development opportunities for mutual benefits. He urged his fellow investors to consider investing in Antigua and Barbuda as he did with the LIAT 2020 Airline and has not regretted it.
“We are going long-haul with the government of Antigua and Barbuda, and in the coming weeks or months, the LIAT birds will hit the Caribbean skies. I have invested there. I cannot mislead you”, he asserted.
