The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, CON has inaugurated the Technical Committee on Export Reject to improve on Nigeria’s global market access for Agro-Exports recently in Abuja.
Adebayo disclosed that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, has placed a lot of emphasis on the promotion of non-oil commodity exports which has led to farmers and product aggregators partnering to explore the export market for their product.
“International market is competitive in nature and only welcome products of high quality with relevant certifications and quality packaging that is environmental friendly, stressing that, the problem of quality, standard, certification appropriate packaging for Made-In-Nigerian Products for Export has been a recurring issues hence the need to set up a technical committee to address the issue and proffer appropriate recommendations”. He added.
The Minister further highlighted the Terms Of Reference (TOR) for the committee’s assignment which includes; identify the major causes for the export reject of Nigerian agro commodities, determine the role played by exporters or institutional infractions that tend to promote export, suggest measures necessary to strengthen the capacity of exporters to promote the quality, standard, certification and packaging for Made-In-Nigeria Products for export, develop the policy framework for Global Gap (GAP) certification and quality packaging that is environmental friendly for global trade.
He further stated that the membership of the committee has been carefully drawn from both the public and private sectors, stressing that “it is important to state that the nation is looking forward to work as an antidote to the rejection being suffered by exporters at the international market”. He added
Earlier, in his remarks the Alternate Chairman of the committee and Managing Director, ABX World, Captain John Okakpu, commended the Minister for recognizing the Organized Private Sector (OPS) as well as other relevant stakeholders to be part this committee to drive the economic growth and development of the country.
Captain Okakpu further explained that OPS enjoyed a lot of cooperation from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in their effort to bring an unstoppable, sustainable, standard and highly profitable gesture in agro export activities in Nigeria.
“In addition to all the relevant stakeholders in this committees, our numerous assignments of permanently exporting the frustration, rejection of our agro-commodities in the international market would be achieved without a doubt.” He added.
While delivering vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Committee and Director, Commodities and Export Department, who was represented by the Deputy Director Commodities, Mr. Irimiya Kaura, commended the Minister for giving them the opportunity to serve in the committee.
Mr. Kaura lamented that the problems of quality, standard, certification and packaging are the major constraints to market access for Nigeria’s Agro-Exports.
He further stressed that the committee understands the enormity of the job to be done in six 6 weeks and will spare no time to ensure that the job is not only done, but well done.
Kaura commended the Minister for finding the team worthy for this important national assignment and assured him that the committee would justify the confidence reposed on it.
It would be recalled that the federal government has approved the establishment of Agro processing zones in all the 109 Senatorial Zones of the Country.
In another development, the Minister also received in his office the US Ambassador to Nigeria, HE Mary Beth Leonard to discuss an annual review under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to determine which countries will have preferential trade access to the USA market under AGOA.
Ibrahim Haruna
Head, Press and Public Relations Unit
