“For a reformed and relevant Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Groups, you can count on Nigeria”. Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment has assured a 3-man ACP delegation which paid him a courtesy call on 29th September, 2017. “
This was the assurance the Honourable Minister, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah gave to the 3-man ACP delegation led by the Secretary-General, Dr. Patrick I. Gomes which visited the Honourable Minister to seek Nigeria’s support and endorsement of the ACP position detailed in the document – “The ACP we want” as opposed to the European Union’s preferred option of splitting the ACP into three regional lines (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Groups).
The Honourable Minister declared: “We are committed to the relationship. We will be represented at the upcoming meeting in Brusells. We understand the historical antecedents and future plans of ACP. We understand the importance of being part of the block. But, we are concerned with for example, how do we give effect to increasing trade volumes? These things are easier said than done.” Ours is a reformist Administration. We want to undertake radical reform of our infrastructure, impact on our youth population and make Nigeria stronger through industrialization, policy framework, economic diversification and others.”
The Secretary-General of ACP, Dr. Patrick I. Gomes which led in the 3-man ACP delegation had earlier articulated the position of the Group to the Honourable Minister as anchored on 3-strategic pillars which are: (1) Trade, Investment Services and Industrialization; (2) Science, Technology, Research and Innovation; and (3) Political Dialogue – Political advocacy in the Global Context.
In giving depth to the 3-Strategic Pillars, Dr. Patrick I. Gomes said ACP desired
– Investment Cooperation between and among regions, taking advantage of growing population;
– South-South Trade and Economic Cooperation;
– Strengthening institutional arrangement under Federal Ministry of Agriculture and scaling up capacities;
– Improving production capacity in Agriculture and food security;
– Policy measures to enhance financial security;
– Tapping into trade potentials of Service Sector; and
– Safeguarding ACP’s position in U.K. given the BREXIT as the Prime Minister is looking at Global Britain.
The relative assurance by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah on the request of the visiting ACP delegation has earlier been canvassed in her contribution to the discussion by the Director of Trade in the Ministry, Mrs. Evelyn Nwachukwu that the request of the visiting delegation is about the position already being advanced by Nigeria.
Press release from Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
