The New Partnership for Africa’s Development has announced plans to regulate the import and export of products from Africa.
The Special Assistant to the President on NEPAD, Nigeria, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, who disclosed in Abuja, stated that the agency was working out a regulation which would ensure that only quality products are imported and exported into Nigeria and other African nations.
According to Njeze, the regulation will be crafted during the NEPAD Africa forthcoming Trade Fair, noting that countries on the continent had realised the significance of diversifying their economies, developing local contents, and enhancing the competitiveness of products in the international market.
The special assistant, in a statement from the agency, was quoted as saying that “The Trade Fair with the theme ‘Harnessing Potentials for Inclusive Regional Growth,’ would be a platform for facilitating NEPAD product certification designed to open windows of opportunities for African made products in the international export market.
“It would also create an indispensible one stop market for African made goods and services and craft a standard of regulation for ensuring that only quality products are imported and exported from Africa. This platform would further be an opportunity to showcase what we have in Africa and market our investment potentials while the Business and Investment Forum will encourage African businesses to network.”
Njeze described the NEPAD Africa Trade Fair as a veritable tool for the socio-economic transformation of the continent.
According to the statement, Njeze also inaugurated the National Organising Committee of the 2015 NEPAD Africa Trade Fair of indigenous products and services, a platform to showcase and promote Africa’s local content.
It disclosed that the committee was charged with the responsibility of working assiduously to ensure a resounding success of the second edition of the fair scheduled to hold in October.
Njeze stated that the Trade Fair initiative was a product of a successful collaboration between NEPAD Nigeria, and the Africa Trade Centre with the support and approval of the Federal Government.
It highlighted other partners to include the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, South Africa, and the African Diaspora Chamber of Commerce, United States of America.
The fair is expected to commence with a five-day exhibition of African made products, followed by a two-day Business and Investment Forum on Africa, and presentations of Africa Achievement Awards. The inaugurated planning committee comprised of 25 members with Mr. Sunday Ogu, Director, Programme Development and Implementation, NEPAD Nigeria, serving as Chairman. Ogu assured that the committee was dedicated to work together to host an event that will meet all international standards.
By Pita Ochai
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