The Acting Senior Trade Commissioner, Deputy High Commission of Canada, Dindembolo-Zaya Kuyena, has announced Canada’s commitment to deepen its support for Nigeria’s economic development.
Speaking at a ceremony between Canadian company SpeechLogix and MTN Nigeria in Lagos, Kuyena emphasized Nigeria’s significance as Canada’s key partner and praised Nigeria’s diversification efforts, aligning with Canada’s own economic policies.
Kuyena highlighted Canada’s intention to enhance market access through collaboration and emphasized Nigeria’s status as Canada’s largest African foreign investor, with a total investment of $1.7 billion as of 2021.
The partnership between SpeechLogix and MTN Nigeria aims to provide a video conferencing platform called Meetings+, tailored for Small and Medium Enterprises, utilizing Zoom technology.
Kuyena noted Canada’s ongoing collaboration with Nigeria on trade policies and agreements to facilitate market access and investment flow. Despite Canadian direct investment in Nigeria being less than $500 million, efforts are underway to address the trade imbalance. The partnership between SpeechLogix and MTN Nigeria is supported by the Canadian government to bolster trade between both countries.
“Without a doubt, Nigeria is one of Canada’s most important economic partners in Africa promoting trading investment from relationships between itself and Canada.
‘’In 2002, Nigeria became Canada’s second-largest trading partner in Africa with $2.2 billion in bilateral Merchants trade.’
‘’Nigeria is also the largest African foreign investor in Canada with $1.7 billion from 2021 data. Canadian direct investment in Nigeria is estimated at approximately just under $500million and I am pushing for that to increase over the coming years.
‘’Nigeria’s economic diversification policy aligns well with that of Canada, and it’s important to note that it was mentioned in terms of your SME (small medium enterprises) landscape,” he said.
Recognizing the importance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, which constitute over 60 percent of businesses, Kuyena emphasized the similarity with the Canadian economic landscape. This similarity underscores the significance of the alignment and partnership between the two countries.
The Meetings+ solution, tailored for SMEs, facilitates seamless virtual meetings and other engagements. It provides cost-effective daily, weekly, and monthly subscription plans bundled with mobile data, enabling SMEs to conduct business efficiently.
On the solution, General Manager, MTN Business, Charles Okonkwo, said, “Meetings+ is a gateway to a more connected and prosperous future for Nigerian businesses.
“This partnership with SpeechLogix and Zoom emerged from a shared commitment to tackle the challenge of US$ payment constraints and offer flexible packages for short and ad-hoc engagements. Now, users can easily and more conveniently pay for online engagements or meetings in Naira, subscribing to short sessions, with a bundled data allowance for meetings. This is a revolutionary way to conduct business and drive efficiency, increase accessibility, and foster progress and we are here to enable businesses to adapt seamlessly to the future!”
Also speaking on the occasion, Head of Global Sales, SpeechLogix, Haitham El-Hanafi, said, “SpeechLogix and Zoom teamed up to bring a platform that is designed to help operators boost their revenue, the Zoom video technology and the SpeechLogix innovative modules combine a truly all-in-one platform that is deployed in less than 60-days.”
A user-friendly, reliable, and innovative unified communications platform, Meetings+ seamlessly integrates video, voice, and chat features across all devices, from desktops and phones to conference room systems, leveraging Zoom’s technology and MTN’s robust network.
With Meetings+, users can pay in Naira through MoMo or via the MyMTN NG app and gain benefits that go beyond just attending meetings to enjoying optimized workforce productivity, increased team connections and achieving more. This powerful combination enables businesses to unlock efficiencies, automate processes, and optimize operations, driving innovation and productivity to new heights.
The strategic alliance between SpeechLogix and Zoom highlights MTN’s dedication to reshaping the conventional business environment and advancing its evolution from a Telecommunications Company to a Technology Company. This partnership aligns with MTN’s ambition to spearhead the digital transformation of businesses, particularly Small and Medium Enterprises.
