Panellists at the Lagos Road show of the much publicised forthcoming Intra-African Trade Fair 2021 (IATF20O21) have advised the Nigerian government and the private sector to scale up its numerous business opportunities and assert its position as the prime business hub on the African continent.
IATF2021 is a platform in the trade economies of the African continent by connecting buyers and sellers, investors and governments to exchange trade, investment, market information, and conclude transactions.
Managing Director, Intra African Trade Initiative, Afreximbank, Mrs Kanayo Awani while addressing captains of industry, business leaders and other stakeholders stressed the need to promote intra_African trade in the interest of the over 50 countries on the continent.
Another panellist, Mr. Ken Etete, who is the Managing Director of Century Group Nigeria, said the numerous available opportunities should be used to mitigate the challenges faced in doing business.
‘’We should use the opportunities to mitigate the challenges. Let us go to Durban to look for opportunities to make small businesses to grow big. Africans are always overwhelmed with challenges without looking for opportunities. I believe the African economy will change when we focus more on what we can produce. Our manufacturing sector needs to scale up,’’ he said .
The IATF2021 Road Show which was hosted by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Union, with the theme : ‘Promoting Nigeria-Africa Trade and Investment Under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), outlined many areas of mutual cooperation on the business front on the continent . Participants at the event which took place at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos also harped on the urgent need to raise awareness about the potential benefits of attending the forthcoming Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021) taking place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from November 15 to November 21, 2021.
Earlier, the Executive Vice President, Corporate Governance and Legal Services, Afreximbank, Dr George Elombi, had stressed the importance of the Nigerian government and the private sector to be very visible at the forthcoming Trade Fair.
He emphasised that Nigeria, which accounts for 52 % of the African population, also accounts for over 17 % of the African economy, a development which stands it in good stead to benefit enormously from intra -African trade.
“We think for those reasons, Nigeria should be very visible at the Intra-African Trade Fair in Durban, South Africa”, he said
Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Segun Awolowo who represented the Minister of Industry,Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, said the relevant Nigerian agencies will be duly represented at the Trade Fair .