In line with the Nigerian Government’s economic diversification plan, the largest black nation in the world assembled stakeholders in its capital city Abuja to brainstorm on how to focus more on Non-Oil Export for its foreign earnings. The National Conference on Non-Oil Export organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council was the first in the history of the country.
Delivering his keynote address at the two day Conference with the theme: Export for Survival, Optimising Nigeria’s Non-Oil Export Potentials”, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said government has invested about nine trillion naira in different sectors of the economy to enhance export development in the last five years.
He said the investment covered rail, roads, power and broadband connectivity, all of which are sustained and accelerated despite the interruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Vice President also said one of the commitments was to the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria which was launched last year with an initial seed capital of one trillion naira as an urgent response to the yawning three hundred billion dollar infrastructural deficit.
The Minister of State For Industry Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha spoke on how the National Quality Policy, Skills Export as well as the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises could serve as foreign earners.
It was the turn of the man of the moment, the NEPC, Executive Director, Ezra Yakusak to say the significance of the National Conference to the nation’s economy.
The Conference will also enable Nigeria to enhance the competitiveness of its businesses in order to maximise the full benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) Agreement it entered.
