Our target is to grow the Nigerian Economy by promoting indigenous products

Amid dwindling revenue resources,Tony Ejinkonye,the President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry,(ACCI) said the focus of this year Trade Fair to promote indigenous products,and the Small scale businesses in Nigerians ,which would foster the growth of the economy.

Tony who spoke to BusinessDay on the sidelines of the on going 11th Abuja International Trade fair on Thursday  said,the fair is targeted at “Promoting revitalisation and diversification of Nigerian economy by promoting the nation’s non-oil exports,particularly the Agro- allied products and mineral resources.

He  also noted that the Trade fair  also targeted at providing  access to resource and technology findings,and promote accelerated development of commerce and Industry,and to direct attention to the role of private sector in the nation’s economy

Tony said,”A nation which does not generate ideas cannot create goods or services,a nation which cannot create,cannot sell,and a nation which cannot sell,cannot hope to build a good,reliable and dependable economy. All the developed economies in the World today are built upon the bedrock of solid entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile,while expressing concerns on the current state of the nation’s SMEs,he said, “Regrettably,with the current state of the economy,small businesses are suffering deficit occasioned by low output which is not good for the economy considering the role of small businesses as engine of growth and drivers for job creation”

Meanwhile,Bassey Edem,the President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce,Industry,Mines and Agriculture,(NACCIMA),also at the on going Trade Fair also noted that with the right environment,the SMEs has the capacity to revive Nigeria’s dwindling economy.

Participating countries at the fair include :China,Ecuador,Ghana,Gambia,Egypt,Parkistan,India,Brazil,Guinea,Senegal and Cameroun.

Meanwhile Leopoldo Verdesoto,the Ecuadorian Ambassador to Nigeria told BusinessDay at the event that the purpose is to provide Nigerian businessmen with accurate information concerning exports, commerce, investment and tourism in Ecuador, as well as support the activities of the Chamber of Commerce in Abuja.

According to the Ambassador,”Participating in the trade fair  provides us a platform to promote our products and services to a broader group that may have little or no knowledge about Ecuador and its products and investment opportunities”

He also noted that Ecuador would work closely with Nigeria in expanding economic opportunities by both countries,since they are facing similar challenge of dwindling oil resources and the urgency of  focusing  on economic diversification.