The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, has noted that a strong collaboration between the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and the organised private sector (OPS) would facilitate a sustainable free trade zone operations in Nigeria.
Adesugba made the remarks at the first quarter council meeting of NACCIMA held in Abuja. The NEPZA boss explained that the country was blessed with a vibrant business community and called on NACCIMA members to exploit the free trade scheme to better the lots of their members.
He said the scheme was a global concept that liberalises business environment through various task exemptions; hence, enterprises operating in the zones are less likely to struggle because of the existing safety nets.
In a statement signed by the Media Assistant to the Managing Director, Martins Odeh, quoted Adesugba as saying that the Federal Government is deliberately and conscientiously investing and improving on infrastructure in both the Kano and Calabar free trade zones for sustainable industrialisation and job creation.
“The President Muhammadu Buhari administration means well for the growth of the economy and he has been consistent with investing in the two zones. We, therefore, need a sustainable collaboration with the organized private sector for NEPZA to achieve its lofty mandate.
“Without sounding immodest, I am a man of many parts, traversing the public and private sectors with a stop-over at this highly revered association. We should be genuinely interested in helping the government and its agencies to develop the country.”
