Nigerian exporters must benefit from AGOA before 2025—Minister
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, has said Nigeria needs to utilise the next seven years to take advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Enalama, who was represented by a Principal Officer of the Ministry, Mr. Stephen Adeyemo, at an advocacy workshop organized by the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC/AGOA Trade Resource Center in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday said Nigeria must benefit from AGOA before the expiration of the Act.
“We have to use the remaining period between now and 2025 to take advantage and derive the maximum benefit that is being given by AGOA,” Adeyemo told the participants.
In his welcome remark, Head/Trade Promotion Advisor, NEPC Benin Smart Office, Mr. Macpherson A. Fred-Ilogben, told participating exporters at the workshop to maximize the knowledge from the event to enhance their capacity.
“Through the knowledge that you will get from this workshop, your products can be well adapted to access the American market duty free and quota free,” he said.
Delivering the first presentation, Head, AGOA Trade Resource Centre, NEPC, Lagos, Mrs. Bolanle Emmanuel, explained that one of the benefits of AGOA for benefiting countries is the advantage over non AGOA countries.
In her paper titled Understanding AGOA’s Procedures and Documentation, she said “Exporters must make production of consistent quality product(s) a priority.”
Emmanuel added that, “Exporters should also have required certification(s) in place, contact the appropriate government regulatory agency, comply with the procedures, and have accurate and genuine documents to be able to export under AGOA into the United States.”
In another presentation, a consultant, Mr. David Aderibigbe, presenting a paper on ‘Food and Drug Administration in the United States, said “Exporting could be difficult and confusing but could be profitable.”
Participating exporters took turn to ask questions on the presentations which were duly answered at the event.
AGOA is a United States Trade Act enacted on May 18, 2000, as a Public Law 106 of the 200th Congress. The legislation closing 2025 significantly enhances market access to the United States for qualifying Sub-Saharan countries, including Nigeria.