Abuja Trade Fair, facilitation platform for AfCFTA – Minister, NACCIMA

Government and private sector leaders have described the Abuja International Trade Fair (AITF) as a strong facilitation platform for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfFCTA).

 

Government leaders from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) led by Otunba Niyi Adebayo, heads of critical economic and Federal Agencies noted that the 16th AITF has confirmed that Nigeria is ready for the AfCFTA.

 

The President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), John Udeagbala, explained that over time the Abuja International Trade Fair has enabled Nigerian businesses to upgrade their capacity for packaging, innovation and standardization of their products for export.

 

He enjoined every Nigerian entrepreneur to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the AfCFTA to improve their businesses and get connected to other African markets and beyond.

 

Buttressing the above, the President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, cited examples of high quality products on display at the Trade Fair noting that Nigeria’s Micro, Medium and Small-scale Enterprises (MSMEs) are indeed ready to take over African markets.

 

Dr. Abubakar said the importance of AfCFTA is underscored by the full support of government towards preparing the nation to explore the opportunities which the AfCFTA platform has provided.

 

“As Nigeria is grooming her business for continental trade, other African nations are also in the same race. This is where the organised private sector becomes a critically relevant partner of government to deliver on the benefits of AfCFTA”,  he said.

 

The Minister of Trade and investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, at the event said the collaboration between his Ministry and the organized private sector is responsible for the high standard of products and service being offered by Nigerian MSMEs at this Trade Fair in preparation for AfCFTA.

 

According to him, the chamber movement in Nigeria is an indispensable partner of the government in the push to grow Nigerian economy for export market, urging patronage of local products and services to deepen Nigerian Gross Domestic Product.

 

The Director General, Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI), Aninou Akadiri, cited the Abuja Trade Fair as an example that is being copied by other West African countries, emphasizing that FEWACCI is proud to be a partner of ACCI, which is the organizing body for the trader fair

 

In her closing remarks, the Director General ACCI, Victoria Akai, lauded every government representative, stakeholders and participants who graced the occasion, adding that in the last five years, ACCI had embarked on a continuous improvement of the services and quality of the Trade Fair.

 

 

Some of the steps she listed include better exhibition infrastructure and ongoing push to upgrade the delivery of ACCI events to world class standards and to align with current realities of business.

 

“This Trade Fair has successive influence on the local economy by initial injection of exhibition through spending from companies involved directly in the exhibition and from exhibitors and visitors.

“Secondly, there is the multiplier effect which accounts for a revolving consequence in all sectors,”  she observed.

 

Meanwhile, prices at the Trade Fair remain very low despite the high quality of goods that are on display.

 

A survey of exhibition stands at the fair shows that the prices of good and products are lower than what are obtainable at major Abuja markets such as Wuse, Utako, Kaura and Garki markets

 

It was revealed that the exhibition which opened on Thursday has continued to attract huge patronage as many Nigerians in the Federal Capital Territory seek to take advantage of the low prices.