A one-day sensitisation Workshop on ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, ETLS has ended in Awka with a call on Ndi Igbo to explore opportunities provided for them to enjoy free exportation and importation of goods without spending much on import and customs duties.

 

This was the highpoint of speeches made during the South East Sensitization Workshop held in Awka, Anambra state.

The sensitization workshop organized by Ministry of Foreign Affairs was attended by stakeholders in trade and services, industrialists, manufacturers in all the states in the south east zone, captains of industries among others.

 

In an opening speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar represented by Ambassador Obinna Onowu said that the theme of the event “Exploring the Benefits of ETLS in Nigeria” is apt and noted that the event already held in some zones in the country is most important in South East especially Anambra state who are mainly entrepreneurs, adding that ETILS provides Nigerians free export of goods and services outside the shores of the country.

Ambassador Onowu said that ETLS brings to an end waste of huge resources in Export and Import duties, especially among the ECOWAS Member states and revealed that Nigeria has nine hundred and forty-six enterprises and over ten thousand products currently.

 

Speaking at the event, Governor Chukwuma Soludo said that he has laid foundation for businesses to thrive in Anambra through the provision of quality roads and other infrastructural development, and has reinvented the “Igba Boy” scheme where young boys are trained in line of businesses to grow, become their own masters and train others.

While describing the program as a major means of ensuring free flow of goods and services across borders of ECOWAS member states, Governor Soludo represented by his Chief of Staff, Sir Ernest Ezeajughi, recalled that Anambra state government is building a stable economic state with the introduction of distribution of cocoanut and Palm seedlings, which has been an annual event, and announced that one point three million seedlings of cocoanuts, palm, bitter-kola, breadfruit among others would be distributed across the state for this year’s planting season.

 

He stressed the need to promote made in Nigeria products to boost the economy of the country.

In their various presentations, Mr Yohana Kezaks who spoke on the difference between ECOWAS Trade Liberisation Scheme , ETLS and African Continental Free Trade Area, AFCFTA and Mr Adekunle Obatimehi from Nigeria Export Promotion Council, who spoke on Sensitization of Export Incentives, maintained that there are fifteen ECOWAS member states who came together to promote free flow of goods and services across borders to enhance regional integration, infrastructural development, capacity building, institutional strengthening, sustainable development, noting that it is better to base more on exportation to earn foreign exchange, increase sales and profit volume among other gains.

 

The President South East and South-South Chamber of Commerce, Sir Humphrey Ngonadi in a good will message, stressed the importance of information in building businesses and human development, appreciating the organizers for choosing Anambra as venue of the event.

Others who spoke at the event were Governor of Ebonyi state, Chief Francis Nwifuri represented by his Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Oguzo Ofia-Nwali, the Chief Administration Officer in the Ministry of Finance, Mr Adamu Nurudeen, while the Anambra state Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Mr Christian Udechukwu among others, attended the event.

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