The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has asked all relevant stakeholders in West Africa to explore all areas of collaboration to maximize productivity.
Tuggar, represented by the Director, Economic Trade and Investment Department (ETID), Bolaji Akinremi, made the call on Saturday in Abuja during a first-round table meeting with Cote D”Ivoire.
The minister noted that it was critical to harmonize all ECOWAS rules to boost production in the subregion.
At the round table and expo, organised by the federal government in collaboration with the Organised Private Sector (OPS), the minister noted that the subregion must unite.
”We need to talk to ourselves, we also need to have synergy among ourselves.
“If we are going to have productivity, then we must harmonize all regulations.
“ECOWAS has been working on ETLs but it’s really not working. We must make it to work.
“The Africa Continental Free Trade is here. Yet our industries are not keyed into it. We need to get the Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN) to be in tandem with NACCIMA.”
He said the federal government must adopt a determined programme to train Nigerians in other foreign languages, especially since Nigeria is surrounded by other languages and cannot afford to be average.
He pointed out that Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire should collaborate on value addition, notably in cashew and cocoa production, given the two countries produce nearly identical products.
Counsellor of Trade Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Cote D’Ivoire in Nigeria, Abre Martin, said his country was delighted to collaborate with various ministries in Nigeria to promote growth and development.
