The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and industry says for the country to benefit from the Africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement and retain her position as the biggest economy on the continent, stakeholders must continue to improve on the ease of doing business.
The president, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and industry Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar made this known at the opening of the 16th Abuja International Trade Fair.
Dr. Abubakar said an emergency action must be taken to ease the export process, ensure a single export clearing desk for exporters, force regulators to become facilitators and declare export Facilitation as a national emergency.
Dr. Abubakar explained that the chamber has embarked on series of activities to strengthen the capacity of its members and the private sector to be strong players at the Continental level.
The president of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Mr. John Udeagbala called on government at all levels to work with the chambers to promote SMEs.
The Ambassador, embassy of Cote D’ivoire Kalilou Traore said the country was interested in strengthening trade with Nigeria.
Declaring the fair opened, the Minister of Industry, trade and investment Adeniyi Adebayo represented by Director trade in the ministry Mr. Aliyu Abubakar explained that the AfCFTA would help achieve a lot of government policies.
The Director General of the Chambers, Dr. Victoria Akai said the fair provides opportunity for governments to Assist the promotion of SMEs.
The 16th Abuja International Trade Fair (AITF) is with the theme, “Exploring Opportunities of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
Victoria Chimezie