AfCFTA: ACCI urges FG to declare emergency on export mobilization

President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, said Nigeria as a nation facing low export and high import and stiff competition from over 50 countries under the AfCFTA must take export mobilisation as an emergency.

Speaking at the official opening of the 16th Abuja International Trade Fair, which has as theme: “Exploring Opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” in Abuja on Monday, the ACCI President called on the Federal government to summon leaders of agencies in the export sector to enforce single desk clearance for exporters.

According to him, “this is the only way to ensure Nigeria’s competitiveness and strength as the biggest economy on the continent”.

Abubakar maintained that for Nigeria to benefit from AfCFTA and retain her position as the biggest economy on the continent, “we must continue to work to improve our records on ease of doing business.”

“In addition to the action plans already created by AfCFTA Committee, a deliberate emergency  action must be taken to ease  the export process,  ensure a single export clearing desk for exporters, force regulators to become facilitators and declare export facilitation as a national emergency,” he added.

The ACCI president said the importance of the AfCFTA was underscored by government’s support towards preparing the country to exploit the opportunities the platform had provided, adding that as Nigeria was grooming the business class for continental trade, “other African nations are also in the same race.”

“As a Chamber, we have embarked on series of activities to strengthen the capacity of our members and the private sector as a whole to be strong players at continental level. Through our four centers,  we emphasize capacity training  for export market, trans-national alternative dispute resolution,  programme for pro-business policy and gathering together of stakeholders,” he said.

In her remarks, the Director General of ACCI, Victoria Akai, emphasised the importance of the Trade Fair, adding that in the last five years, the Chamber had embarked on a commitment to improve the quality of its trade events, first through improving its infrastructure and then engaging MICE expertise, with the intention to eventually upgrade the delivery of our events to world class standards and to align with current realities of business.

According to her, the Tradefair had had successive influence on the local economy, first by the initial injection of exhibition spending  through spending from companies involved directly in the exhibitions and from exhibitors and visitors.

The DG said, “The Abuja International Trade Fair provides a major trading platform with hundreds of businesses marking it as a ‘must attend annual event’. The level of business transactions is very high, thereby helping to increase consumer appetite.

“On another level, the fair is assisting the Nigerian government to properly position the SME sector for the export market. The standard of product packaging and the quality of products now on display show that Nigeria is indeed prepared and ready to take advantage of huge opportunities offered by AfCFTA.

“The fair is thus a major contributor to the facilitation of trade both locally and internationally. The fair is always the right place for business networking, buying and selling. This year’s trade fair offers the opportunity to shop, interact and gain more business knowledge that will help expand enterprises. With the world gradually coming out from the COVID-19 pandemic, this will help open up opportunities for businesses to recover from what they lost during the pandemic”.

The Fair, which commenced on the 30th of September, was officially declared open on Monday and attracted over 250 Exhibitors, including local and international participants. It was attended by both State and non state actors including members of the diplomatic community.