In order to make Nigeria one of the 20 largest economies by the year 2020, there is need to accelerate the growth of non-oil export to a double digit as well as enabling the government to achieve its seven-point agenda.

Minister of Commerce and Industry, Chief Achike Udenwa, who expressed this view in a keynote address at a one-day sensitisation workshop on how Nigerian non-oil exports can have more access to the United State at the NACCIMA headquarters in Lagos last week also stated that promoting the development of non-oil sector would lead to creation of more jobs, wealth as well as the empowerment of the Nigerian populace.

The minister advised Nigerian manufacturers to aim at the production of high quality products that meet international standard, adding that by such production practice, Nigeria would not only export to the US market but also stand out among the comity of nations.

The minister explained that the workshop was one of the two sensitisation programmes which his ministry is putting together to apprise Nigerian exporters with relevant information on the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between Nigeria and the United States, as well as how best members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS), particularly exporters could access the US market.

He said subsequent sensitisation workshops would similarly be organised in the remaining geo-political zones of the country later in the year.

Chief Udenwa noted that TIFA was signed between the two countries in the year 2000 with the sole objective of promoting trade and investment between the two countries, particularly, non-oil exports, adding however that TIFA would also afford members of the OPS in the country an avenue to take advantage of the trade incentives under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The commerce ministry’s boss also informed members of the OPS that they could take advantage of the benefit of understanding how to access over 4,500 products under AGOA trade incentives.

Earlier in her welcome address, Permanent Secretary in the Commerce Ministry, Mrs. E. B. P Emuren noted that TIFA provided a mechanism in which the two-way trade between the US and Nigeria could be facilitated.

She explained that TIFA also established the terms of reference for structured dialogue on Trade, Intellectual property, flow of Trade and Investment as well as partnership and spirit of co-operation between the economic operators of the two countries.

Latest AGOA Trade Data currently available on AGOA.info


Click here to view a sector profile of Nigeria's bilateral trade with the United States, disaggregated by total exports and imports, AGOA exports and GSP exports.

Other regularly updated trade statistics on AGOA.info include: (click each link to view)