Nigeria’s Vice President, Kasim Shettima says the government will continue to prioritise infrastructure development through public private partnerships, foreign direct investment and innovative financing models.
The vice president said this while declaring open the second National Conference on Non-oil Export organised by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
The Vice president who was represented by Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Ease of Doing Business in the Office of the Vice President, Jumoke Oduwole said the government is prepared to invest in human capital, research and development and technology transfer to enhance productivity and innovation.
“We must continue to diversify our export markets beyond our traditional partners, while these time tested partners remain important, we must also rapidly grow opportunities in emerging economies across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.”The Vice President said.
“We must forge strategic partnerships, improve market intelligence, and leverage existing trade agreements to expand our markets reach and reduce our dependency on a few well established markets.”
He explained that the president Tinubu administration has commenced the task of prioritising the policy coordination and regulatory environment required for businesses to thrive across Africa.
The Nigerian Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite disclosed that the government intends to spend N75 billion by March 2024 to support local manufacturers in the country.
“We have also earmarked another fund of N75 billion that will be used to support up to 100,000 start-ups and MSMEs at single digital interest rates.” She stated.
“These schemes are complimented by NEPC incentives like the Export Development Fund that aims to prepare and support new exporters wishing to penetrate global markets, by providing training, trade fair participation, financial, and logistics support.”
Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite disclosed that government is working to provide the right hard and soft infrastructure for exports.
