The Federal government of Nigeria, has called on Nigerian businesses and manufacturers to take advantage of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalism Scheme (ETLS) treaty to boost the country’s export basket.
The Minister of External Affairs, Maitama Tuggar, said this in his message to a one-day Sensitization Workshop on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) in Awka, the capital of Anambra on Friday.
The workshop was themed “Exploring the Benefit of ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme in the Region.
Tuga was represented by Director of International Organisations in the ministry, Amb. Obinna Onuwu.
He said the essence of the workshop was to bring information on procedures, requirements and benefits of ETLS to the doorsteps of the Southeast business community.
Tuga said the workshop which was the third in its series since 2020 was to ensure that all Nigerian manufacturers took advantage of this Scheme.
The ETLS initiative of ECOWAS aimed to enhance cooperation and integration in trade, ensuring economic stability by creating an economic union within the region for the wellbeing of the citizens of the community.
He said ETLS would give local manufacturers access to a market of over 400 million consumers across the 15 ECOWAS member states.
According to Tuga, it will also expand their customer base, boost revenues and make significant contributions to the nation’s overall economic growth and prosperity.
The minister emphasised that the workshop would provide firsthand information on how to navigate the ETLS regulatory frameworks and enhance competitiveness.
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“Presently, Nigeria has 946 enterprises with over 10,000 products.
“The primary goal is to establish a Customs Union among all Member States, with the ultimate objective of completely eliminatíng Customs duties and implementing a unified Customs policy.
“It represents an ideal opportunity to foster greater economic integration, and unlock the immense potential of intra-regional trade.
“Our presence here, underscores Federal Government’s collective commitment to harnessing the power of trade as a catalyst for growth and prosperity,” he said.
The minister called on businessmen and women in Anambra and the entire South East Geopolitical Zone to take advantage of the opportunity and register their companies into the scheme to enjoy the numerous benefits therein.
On his part, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo said how external trade was facilitated was important to the prosperity of business and health of the economy.
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Soludo, who was represented by Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, his Chief of Staff, said his government would continue to support business with his numerous friendly policies which earned Anambra the best rated state in Ease of Doing Business in the entire Southern Nigeria.
He urged businesses to embrace ETLS and participate competitively in the West African subregional market.
On his part, the President Southeast Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Humphrey Ngonadi, commended the Federal Government for the treaty and efforts at sensitising the people.
Ngonadi said it had become necessary that business owners became aware of opportunities to trade around and key into them.
Presentations were by representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Investment, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control among others.
