The federal government is organizing a two-day business summit to encourage the patronage of made-in-Nigeria products as well as boost the manufacturing sector of the economy.
The Chief Executive, Business in Nigeria and Co-organizer of The summit, Mr. Udechukwu Christian, told journalists in Abuja that the summit expected to hold between October 9 and 10, seeks to support the production of goods and services in the country as well as support manufacturing and patronage of locally produced goods and services.
He said: “It is essentially conceived as a programme that could make Nigerians in Nigeria to be first option for the sourcing of goods and services made in the country.”
According to him: “We expect that with increased patronage of made-in-Nigeria goods and services, manufacturing will increase and with increased manufacturing, there would also be jobs creation, leading to a multiplier effect on the economy with increased currency value as a result of not only local consumption but also exports.”
The business summit, which is being supported by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) among others is expected to add value to raw materials locally and export the same to create more value for the economy.
Christian added: “We expect to create a market place for public and private sector people to come and see what is produced in Nigeria and to purchase the same. We also expect that over time this would become a programme that would attract buyers from across the whole of Africa and also buyers across the world who would come into Nigeria to see what is made here that they can buy for exports to their own country.”