Yemisi Izuora
The Irish Embassy in Nigeria and Enterprise Ireland are seeking partnership deal with Arik Air on the Irish Trade Mission to Nigeria in December 2015.
The Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sean Hoy had led a team of Enterprise Ireland officials to Arik Aviation Centre at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos to discuss the deal.
The Irish Ambassador stated that the trade mission to Nigeria is expected to be one of the largest in recent times and there would be a lot of interest in the aviation sector as there are about 250 aviation companies in Ireland.
He stressed that the Irish Embassy in Nigeria is committed to improving trade relations between Nigeria and Ireland.
The Head of Africa Region, Enterprise Ireland, Mr. Fred Klinkenberg who was in the team said Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in markets around the world.
The organization work in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales on global markets.
The Trade Mission Representative in Nigeria, Thessa Brongers Bagu while stressing that Arik Air is the airline of choice disclosed that Arik would be the official carrier to move the trade mission between Accra, Abuja and Lagos.
The Chairman of Arik Air, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide who received the visitors with his management team, assured that Arik would be interested in flying the Lagos-Dublin route if there is enough traffic between the two countries.
He said Arik Air has become a strong force in Africa stressing that that the airline has relationship with a number of Irish companies.