Africa a huge market for RI

Africa a huge market for RI

My last letter to The Jakarta Post, titled Goodbye Indonesia,
was published on Feb. 22, 1998. Thanks to God that two years
later I am still able to write, which I think bears testimony to
my sweet memory of the Post. But I am quite aware that many of
the Post's readers have missed me as well as my regular letters.

Physically, I disappeared. Spiritually, I am still with the
Post, the readers, and my fellow writers, especially, D.
Chandramouli, Piero Ronci and Farid Baskoro. Chandramouli's
letter on March 3, 1999, made me remember him because he
described me as "a good writer, excellent communicator and a
goodwill ambassador of Africa".

Baskoro in his letter on Aug. 22, 1997, said: "Africa is a
misunderstood continent and is often presented in an unfair,
distorted way." In his Aug. 21, 1996, letter, Piero Ronci was
able to effectively condemn racial abuse against African
sportsmen/sportswomen within the context of Nigeria's soccer
victory in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

If you come to Abuja, Nigeria's new administrative capital,
"How can I believe my eyes?" is the question you will probably
ask yourself. You will then regret the wicked media deception
that discourages people from knowing the good of Africa.

Mr. Bill Clinton, the U.S. President, spent two lively days
here from Aug. 26, 2000, to Aug. 28, 2000. I took the time to
follow his speeches here and I immediately recall one of his
statements: " ... Americans look upon Africa not simply as a
continent with problems, but also a continent which presents the
world's next great opportunity to advance the cause of peace,
justice and prosperity."

There is a huge market in Africa but the international media
discourage Asian businesspeople from doing business here,
probably assuming all Nigerians are members of an international
scam. Never! This is too far from the truth.

Now take a very simple example of Indonesia and Nigeria. You
will certainly find that since Indonesia's currency turmoil more
than two years ago, industries have become more desperate for
markets where their products can be purchased. The market in
Nigeria, with over a hundred million consumers, definitely needs
Indonesian industrial products, but most Nigerian importers are
handcuffed for lack of business information on Indonesia. The
Indonesian industrialists, I am so sorry to say, are afraid of
doing business with Nigerians due to false media information that
Nigerians are members of an international scam.

When I arrived back in Nigeria two years ago, different
businesspeople asked me for import information on Indonesia. I
sent more than one inquiry but there was no reply. Even at the
moment, building materials and batik are still marketable in
Nigeria.

Please, beware of the media bias against Africa. Most of us
here at home are innocent. To the Muslims in Indonesia, I say
Happy Ramadhan.

BUHARI ABDU

Kano, Nigeria