The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigerian business and trade viability in the global market.
Besides, the consortium of organised private business sector is deploying mechanism for business competitiveness, enabling market accessibility and breaking barriers crippling Nigerian commodities in the global market.
Chairperson of NACCIMA Global, Ambassador Janet Olisa hinted this at the opening of 1st Quarter Council and Annual General Meeting of the organised private sector holding in Kano, where she expantiated concerted efforts being deployed to deepening partnership with government to sustain investment opportunities.
Amb. Olisa explained that NACCIMA Global a distinctive arm of the organised body was entrusted to bridge gap between government policies and private sector to mainstream investment opportunities.
She emphasized the significant need for stronger ties between public and private sectors for better translation of government policies and bilateral agreements into tangible results, worried that private sector have not been able to ripe any gain due to the wide gap.
Amb. Olisa regretted the inability of the private sector to explore several trade benefits deposited in MoUs reached with developed countries especially the Chinese zero tariff for 90 per cent export trade and other multi-million dollars market opportunities in other sectors due to knowledge gap.
Notwithstanding the technical challenges, Amb. Olisa reminded that NACCIMA Global has initiated five key strategies to mitigate the situation including Standards Certification and Formalization, Resource Mobilization and Enablement, Knowledge Data and Market Intelligence and Policy Engagement and Regional Integration.
She asserted that NACCIMA is engaging necessary government agencies to improve commodity certification to ensure trade balance and mitigate consistent rejection of Nigerian goods in the global markets.
Earlier the President of NACCIMA, Engr. Jani Ibrahim explained that despite the challenges the organised private sector has continued to deepen capacity development and enterprise support initiatives across key regions including the ECOWAS Agricultural Training (EAT) Programme, designed to equipping businesses with practical tools to enhance export readiness and competitiveness.
Engr. Ibrahim said NACCIMA extends partnership with CIPE & University of Lagos to facilitate Chamber Development on the ACE platform where participants will be awarded Diplomas on successful completion.
NACCIMA President asserted that with the structural recalibration of Nigerian economy including the implementation of new tax frameworks, evolving financial regulations, persistent inflationary trends, local security realities and global economic uncertainties particularly triggered by the recent developments in the Middle East, the private sector must adop a strategic discipline to remain relevant.
“At the same time, opportunities abound. The African Continental Free Trade Area, the digital economy, the global Halal market, green investments, etc all present viable pathways for growth. The imperative before us is clear: to translate these opportunities into tangible outcomes through coordinated action, policy advocacy, and enterprise resilience.
“As an Association, we must continue to serve as the bridge between policy and practice ensuring that the voice of business is not only heard but also reflected in national decision-making. We must deepen our research capabilities, strengthen our institutional partnerships and enhance the value proposition to our members.
“And new initiatives are being developed almost on a daily basis. We recently engaged the ODDO-BHF of Germany and met with them with the aim of facilitating affordable long-term, single digit loans for our members. We thank members of the interim committee set up to actualize this. We are also progressing on the NACCIMA Global, NACCIMA Foundation and the Tree Planting initiatives as already established”. Engr. Ibrahim added.