Post by Trade facilitator on Jun 13, 2012 12:23:17 GMT 1
The National Council on Trade and Investment has called for increased participation of all state governments across the country in the promotion of non-oil exports.
This was one of the highpoints of the 16-point communiqué issued at the end of the 5th Meeting of the National Council on Trade and Investment, in Minna.
According to the report of the one-year score-sheet of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Nigeria exported non-oil products to 103 countries in 2011, valued at N428bn.
This figure represents a 19 per cent increase over the previous year’s result.
However, the NCTI noted that in order to boost the nation’s non-oil export earnings and increase its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, there was an urgent need to upgrade the existing States’ Export Promotion Committees to Export Promotion Agencies.
They will complement the efforts of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, in order to improve value addition of products meant for the export market .
The Council also stressed the need for the Industrial Training Fund, (ITF) to strengthen its collaboration with state governments in the area of skills acquisition and capacity building in order to create more jobs, generate wealth and transform the nation’s economy.
The communiqué read in part, “It recognised the importance of skills acquisition in Industrial development but noted that several agencies appeared to be involved in the establishment and administration of skills acquisition centres.
To this end, the Council has urged the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to strengthen its liaison with these agencies, including state governments that run such outfits.”
It added, “The NCTI recognises the critical role Produce Inspection Services (PIS) plays in export commodities quality control. However, it noted that the function of States Produce Inspection Services resides in ministries other than Commerce, Industry and Investment as the case may be and urged states to ensure that the function of Produce Inspection be appropriately domiciled.
“Council took note of the approval for the upgrading of the Weights and Measures Division to the status of a Department, its ratification by the National Council on Establishment and the consequent change of nomenclature to Legal Metrology.”
Foreign investment and AGOA
In order to fast-track the implementation of the ministry’s proposed policy on the patronage of made-in-Nigeria products, the NCTI directed that the matter be referred to the National Economic Council for consideration and endorsement.
While commending the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in addressing some of the challenges militating against trade and investment through the implementation of the Investment Climate Reform Programme, the NCTI said there was the need for increased partnership between the state ministries of Trade and Investment and the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in order to attract more Foreign Direct Investment across all sectors of the country.
The Communique stated, “Council took note of the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) process, particularly with respect to the activities of African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP). It also noted the increasing demand on the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the country and the role of Foreign Trade and Investment Desks.
“The Council therefore commended and encouraged the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment to intensify the ongoing consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the establishment of Trade and Investment desks in Nigeria’s Foreign Missions.”
It added, “Council expressed gratitude to His Excellency Mr. President for approving the hosting of the 5th National Council on Trade and Investment (NCTI-05) and commended the tremendous achievements recorded by the Government of Niger State, particularly in the area of infrastructure development to support commercial activities, industrialization and rural development.
“However, the NCTI Council agreed that the 6th edition would be held in Oyo State in 2013, at a date to be determined later.”
Soource: www.voiceofnigeria.org/Nigeria/States-advised-to-boost-non-oil-exports.html
This was one of the highpoints of the 16-point communiqué issued at the end of the 5th Meeting of the National Council on Trade and Investment, in Minna.
According to the report of the one-year score-sheet of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Nigeria exported non-oil products to 103 countries in 2011, valued at N428bn.
This figure represents a 19 per cent increase over the previous year’s result.
However, the NCTI noted that in order to boost the nation’s non-oil export earnings and increase its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, there was an urgent need to upgrade the existing States’ Export Promotion Committees to Export Promotion Agencies.
They will complement the efforts of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, in order to improve value addition of products meant for the export market .
The Council also stressed the need for the Industrial Training Fund, (ITF) to strengthen its collaboration with state governments in the area of skills acquisition and capacity building in order to create more jobs, generate wealth and transform the nation’s economy.
The communiqué read in part, “It recognised the importance of skills acquisition in Industrial development but noted that several agencies appeared to be involved in the establishment and administration of skills acquisition centres.
To this end, the Council has urged the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to strengthen its liaison with these agencies, including state governments that run such outfits.”
It added, “The NCTI recognises the critical role Produce Inspection Services (PIS) plays in export commodities quality control. However, it noted that the function of States Produce Inspection Services resides in ministries other than Commerce, Industry and Investment as the case may be and urged states to ensure that the function of Produce Inspection be appropriately domiciled.
“Council took note of the approval for the upgrading of the Weights and Measures Division to the status of a Department, its ratification by the National Council on Establishment and the consequent change of nomenclature to Legal Metrology.”
Foreign investment and AGOA
In order to fast-track the implementation of the ministry’s proposed policy on the patronage of made-in-Nigeria products, the NCTI directed that the matter be referred to the National Economic Council for consideration and endorsement.
While commending the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in addressing some of the challenges militating against trade and investment through the implementation of the Investment Climate Reform Programme, the NCTI said there was the need for increased partnership between the state ministries of Trade and Investment and the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in order to attract more Foreign Direct Investment across all sectors of the country.
The Communique stated, “Council took note of the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) process, particularly with respect to the activities of African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP). It also noted the increasing demand on the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the country and the role of Foreign Trade and Investment Desks.
“The Council therefore commended and encouraged the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment to intensify the ongoing consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the establishment of Trade and Investment desks in Nigeria’s Foreign Missions.”
It added, “Council expressed gratitude to His Excellency Mr. President for approving the hosting of the 5th National Council on Trade and Investment (NCTI-05) and commended the tremendous achievements recorded by the Government of Niger State, particularly in the area of infrastructure development to support commercial activities, industrialization and rural development.
“However, the NCTI Council agreed that the 6th edition would be held in Oyo State in 2013, at a date to be determined later.”
Soource: www.voiceofnigeria.org/Nigeria/States-advised-to-boost-non-oil-exports.html