LADOL MD advocates policy on investment in developing countries

The Managing Director of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) Simisola Jadesimi said she is engaging with world leaders to help put in place policies, financial solutions and partnerships that will drive investment and expertise into more real private sector companies in low income, high growth countries across the world.

Speaking at the United Nations B-Team Africa, GSMA, UN Foundation on a topic tagged, “Unlocking the power of business – multi-stakeholder collaboration”, Jadesimi said, “the 17 SDGs and 165 targets are a free template for the most profitable business
strategies of the future, private sector will lead in achieving the SDGs, as companies that adopt sustainability now will outcompete companies that do not. In so doing they will also help to create a peaceful and prosperous sustainable
world.”

Other speakers at the forum included Dr. Amy Jadesimi, CEO of LADOL; Jean-Piere Clamadieu CEO, Solvay; Kimmo Tiilikainen, Environment Minister, Finland Government; Guy Ryder, Director General, ILO; Sunny Verghese, Co-founder & Group CEO, Olam International & WBCSD Chair; Ana Dolores Roman, CEO, Pfizer Ecuador.

Jadesinmi also disclosed that practical and policy steps needed to unlock the potential for private sector to take a lead in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to her, “LADOL itself is a practical,
tangible example of how the real private sector in low income high growth countries can stimulate significant economic growth and job creation through the pursuit of sustainable business operations and opportunities.

“LADOL is an industrial Special Economic Zone, built out of a disused swamp into what is now
the only fully integrated deep offshore logistics base and the largest ship yard in West Africa. These developments at LADOL could create 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.

She stated further, “But, the World Bank estimates the world needs 600 million new jobs, 80% of which will come from indigenous companies. If these companies develop
sustainably, they will be resilient and gain higher returns.

Nonetheless the decks are still largely stacked against such indigenous enterprises.

Jadesimi also informed her audience that LADOL’s development took over 15 years and the journey was extremely arduous.