BREAKING: PEBEC DG Zahrah Audu Urges Indonesians To Leverage Nigeria’s E-Visa For Business Expansion

The Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu has urged Indonesian businesses to make the most of Nigeria’s e-visa policy, particularly for trade and investment.

Speaking at the Nigerian-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) quarterly meeting and induction ceremony im Lagos on Friday, she emphasised that the streamlined visa process, which provides approvals within 48 hours, offers a seamless opportunity to explore business prospects in Nigeria.

She said, “I think for most business people, one of the key things you want to see is a stable business environment. I want to encourage more Indonesians to come into Nigeria with our new e-visa policy, which gives you approval within 48 hours. It makes coming to Nigeria easier. Come, explore, and see opportunities.”

With Nigeria’s large consumer base, youthful workforce, and abundant raw materials, Audu emphasised that the country is ripe for investment, especially in manufacturing, technology, and fintech. She encouraged Indonesian companies not just to export goods but to set up local production, leveraging their expertise to tap into a booming market.

“There are some best practices that maybe we can learn from Indonesia, who seem to be thriving very well within their business climate.
And then I think for Indonesians, Nigeria presents a whole new market, and a very large market for lots of the products that they produce. I think for both countries or both nations, it’s mutually beneficial. And at PEBEC, we like to encourage relationships that are mutually respectful and beneficial. I believe this is one of them for Nigeria.

“With Indonesia, I know they’re heavy on manufacturing. Almost all the Asian countries do a lot of manufacturing. Nigeria does a lot of consumption. On the flip side of it, in Nigeria, we have a young budding population. I also feel that here in Nigeria, we have a lot of opportunities in terms of raw materials that can also be explored in terms of a young enlightened population, fluent in English, exposed to Western culture, which is somewhat acceptable in most tribes.”

She also added, “We cannot shy away from the fact that we have over 200 million-plus population, which is great for any manufacturing nation to explore. And Indonesia is heavy on manufacturing and production, so a lot of those goods can be consumed in Nigeria. There’s a ready market here. In fact, we would encourage them to come in and start to produce locally in Nigeria because they already have that expertise.

“I would say it’s a great opportunity, especially if it’s within the sectors of, say, for instance, technology, which I think is one of the things that the Indonesian market is definitely interested in. I think we also have some great advantages, especially within the fintech industry, within our banking sector. I think for Africa, Nigeria has seen a lot of growth with our local banks expanding into other climes. The world has become one global universe and we should explore it. Technology has helped bridge many gaps that otherwise we would not have been able to bridge. I encourage young Nigerians or Nigerian businesses in general to explore other climes. But more importantly, I want to see more foreign direct investment inflow into Nigeria, because we’re at that stage where we’re ready for development, we’re ready for mutually beneficial relationships and we’re ready for the right kind of partnerships.”

As Nigeria continues to strengthen its business climate, the e-visa presents a gateway for Indonesian investors looking to establish a strong foothold in Africa’s largest economy.