TMA invests $1.5b in infrastructure, partners Nigeria on trade reforms

Trademark Africa (TMA) and its commercial arm, Trade Catalyst Africa (TCA), and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) are to collaborate to strengthen trade reforms, promote industrialisation, and expand Nigeria’s access to global markets.

Ms. Allen Asiimwe, TMA’s Deputy Chief of Programme, who disclosed this when the organisation’s team visited the ministry, said TMA and its partners have invested over $1.5 billion across Africa to support transformative projects in infrastructure, transportation, and trade systems.

According to her, the organisation’s commercial arm (TCA) has focused on mobilising funding to drive trade reforms in areas such as border post efficiency, customs modernisation, and digital trade.

A statement from the ministry on Monday said the partnership, when formalised, would boost trading and the exports of made-in-Nigeria products within Nigeria and the African continent.

The proposed partnership in commercial borrowings will support medium- and small-scale enterprises and would ensure greater support to striving MSMEs to access the benefits accruing from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Asiimwe underscored the importance of digital trade strategies in creating accessible trade environments, particularly for small-scale businesses and traders, and highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at promoting green trade and addressing logistical challenges in cross-border transportation.

She said TMA’s commitment to expanding partnerships in Nigeria and West Africa was evidenced by the recent establishment of regional offices and collaborations with ECOWAS to address trade barriers.

Amb. Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, who received the team, said the proposed partnership was “aimed at improving trade efficiency, increasing investment opportunities, and fostering regional integration across Nigeria and the African continent.”

Rimi highlighted Nigeria’s dedication to enhancing the ease of doing business and modernising trade policies, citing notable achievements such as the digitisation of customs processes and the development of a new National Intellectual Property (IP) Policy.

“This collaboration will significantly step up and advance trade efficiency and enable Nigerian businesses to thrive in the global market space,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director of the Trademarks Department, Mr. Adamu Yauri, said Nigeria is advancing its IP policy to align with global standards and promote geographical indication (GI) laws that protect unique agricultural products such as aloe vera and yellow pepper.

Yauri emphasised that robust IP frameworks were essential for enhancing the competitiveness of Nigerian goods and attracting foreign investment.