By Tanko Mohammed
The Nigerian Global Business Forum (NGBF), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) to drive industrial development.
Signing the MoU via Webinar on Tuesday, Mr Afolabi Andu, President of NGBF, said its objective was to primarily enhance Nigeria’s economic growth.
NGBF is an umbrella organisation for Nigerian Business Forums in the UK, U.S.A, Ireland, Austria and the Caribbean, while NACCIMA is the umbrella body for all City, State, Regional , Bilateral and Multilateral Chambers of Commerce in Nigeria.
According to Andu, the agreement will equally ensure sustainability through strategic involvement of membership network of both organisations.
He noted that the partnership covered a wide range of activities, especially initiatives such as the development of Industrial parks,(light factories), organising of workshops, exhibitions, conferences, trade missions, policy and advocacy.
”At a time when global economy is witnessing downward trend due to the effects of Coronavirus pandemic, countries are focusing on salvaging their economies by supporting businesses that can drive industrial growth,” Andu said.
He said that with oil price hovering around 30 dollars per barrel and the country in another recession technically, there was no better time for diversification into non-oil sectors of the economy for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, than now.
The NGBF president also pointed out that most of the Asian and far Eastern brands globally recognised today, emerged through the vision of Industrial Parks where quality national brands were initially established, now resulting into global brands.
“This is in line with our strategy of systematically and deliberately working towards the development of formidable Nigerian brands through strategic partnership,” he said.
On his part, Mr Dele Oye, Second Deputy President of NACCIMA, said that with the partnership, there was bound to be healthy exchange of ideas and commercial interface between both organisations to the country’s overall benefit.
“The strategic partnership between NACCIMA and NGBF is an actualisation of one of Hajiya Saratu Aliyu’s principle objectives for her tenure as NACCIMA president, to promote matters affecting business through provision of a network for national and international business.
“NACCIMA was established in 1960 to provide advocacy, trade promotion, business development, capacity building, research and mediation on trade and investment.
“Currently the organisation has well over 5,000 registered members across Nigeria,” Oye said.
