The Federal Government has called on the Nigerian private sector to maximize the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, made the call on Thursday at the Lighting of the Africa Trade Torch organized by the African Business Council in Cairo.
He said the participation of the private sector would be vital in birthing the goals of the AfCFTA, strongly believe that there can be no AfCFTA without the full participation of the private sector, as the key driver of economies within the continent and beyond.
Describing the private sector as the engine of the African economy, Adebayo appealed to governments to assume the important role of promoting trade development.
He hailed the contributions of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, which it said played a key role in the creation of the PAMA.
He restated the commitment of the association towards serving as a launchpad for increased intra-Africa trade, a focal point of the AfCFTA.
Ahmed said, “The association aims to encourage cooperation between African manufacturers such that there can be market transformation in order to grow SMEs and subsequently create value chains to achieve Africa’s industrialization agenda.
– Punch