Post by Trade facilitator on Feb 26, 2011 22:59:37 GMT 1
PROSPECTS of great fortunes for Nigeria was bright at the weekend, as the nation’s non-oil export community predicted that the sector will increase the country’s income, by N1 trillion annually, from 2020.
Stakeholders stated this in Abuja at the end of
Rising from a three-day conference on Nigeria Non-oil export, Exhibition and Awards (NNECA), in Abuja, stakeholders in the sector concluded that the “key to Nigeria’s future is in the non-oil export as it is the major passport to gaining competitive economic advantage in today’s international community”.
They said: “Nigeria is second, third & fourth world largest producer of 15 other export commodities including cocoa, palm produce, potatoes, maize, cashew nuts, Gum Arabic, kola nuts.”
The Conference that was organized by Koinonia Ventures Limited, a Nigerian-owned export consultancy firm, attracted a wide range of stakeholders in the non-oil export sector, including: Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), top exporters, Banks, Shipping lines, Insurance Companies, Chambers of Commerce and Industry and other relevant government agencies.
The Conference with the theme: “Soaring towards the Future Non-oil Exports as Driver of Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020" is conceived as an annual forum for key players in the Non-oil Sector and is organised to improve Private-Public sector dialogue on issues pertaining to Nigeria’s export performance.
In the Communiqué issued after the conference, participants noted that Nigeria can, from 2020, earn up to One Trillion Naira annually from targeted exports of Sesame Seeds, Cocoa, Ginger, Palm Oil and Cotton if the nation refocuses on Agro Commodities Exports.
The participants also noted the availability of non oil products and business opportunities in all states of the federation, as they commended the Niger State Government for its leadership role as a state in promoting its development in Nigeria.
The participants, while calling on the Government to ensure consistency in her export incentives policies, said that Nigeria should also decisively address the infrastructural deficiencies being a major impediment to industrial growth in the country.
They also recommended the need for a major world-class mineral testing laboratory in Nigeria and the establishment of a Nigerian Trade and Competitiveness Commission.
