The 4th International Conference & Exhibition on Free Trade Zones (FTZ Nigeria 2013), will be the industry gathering conducted specifically for policy makers, operators, investors and professionals to discuss transformation of Nigeria at Federal and State levels using free trade zones while expanding economic opportunities for Public-Private Synergy.
The event will take place between 21st and 23rd April 2013 in Lagos under the Chairmanship of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and a Ministerial address by Olusegun Aganga the Minister for Trade and Investment on’ FTZ: The Springboard to Sustainable Economic Transformation of Nigeria’ will come up at the opening ceremony on Monday 22nd April 2013.
According to Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson the Chief Executive of Century 21 Systems Communication Ltd, the event partners which include Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority Onne (OGFZA), find it fitting this year to use the conference platform to compare notes, discover new trends and support organizations/operators alike in our national aspiration to propel Nigeria to among the world’s 20 most developed economies.
He said further, Nigeria could take the title of being the continent’s largest economy from South Africa by 2025 since it’s currently one of the fastest-growing economies in the world with free trade policy in place to provide tax incentives, allow full repatriation of profits, and provide expedited visas and company registration.
“Our theme for this conference is in tandem with Nigeria government economic aspiration to sustain the GDP growth rate which is presently at 7 per cent, while also driving more effective links between the sector and other economic areas such as industries, business in logistics, manufacturing, oil and gas, port and harbor, bank and development finance organizations, telecommunications companies, project managers, engineering designs and projects contractors, petrochemical and refining among others through increase local content and indigenous participation,” Odusola-Stevenson said.
A special feature of this year’s conference is a ‘Leadership Roundtable And FTZ Strategy Forum’ slated for Monday 22nd April 2013 which is expected to feature as participants: Senator Odion Ugbesia, Chairman of Senate Committee on Trade & Investment; Hon. Solomon Agidani ,Chairman of House Committee on Commerce & Industry ; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Hon. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy ;Sen.Idris A.Umar , Hon. Minister of Transport ; Stella Oduah, Hon. Minister of Aviation and Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs. Others include Gbenga Kuye, Managing Director of Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority ;Hon.Victor Alabo, Managing Director of Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority, Onne ; Luk Haeltermann, Managing Director of OK Free Trade Zone; Charles Adebiyi, President of Sino-Nigeria Networking Ltd/GTE ; Chris Ndibe, Secretary General of Africa Free Zones Association and Engr. Andrew Yakubu, Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation including Tony Elumelu, President of The Tony Elumelu Foundation.
The first free trade zone was established in 1993 in Calabar by the federal government and today there are currently over 27 free trade zones in Nigeria with some primarily aims to supply support services to the offshore
