Avila Naturalle Limited, a leading Nigerian manufacturer of natural beauty, skincare and wellness products, has commenced its inaugural shipment to Kenya through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), after being recently selected amongst the Nigerian frontline companies to pioneer Nigeria’s inaugural shipment to other African countries.
Speaking during the ceremony in Lagos, Senior Trade Expert/Lead, Trade Enablement, AfCTA National Coordination Office, Olusegun Olutayo, said the shipment marks another milestone in the implementation of the AfCFTA Nigeria Guided Trade Initiative and also a step in the right direction for the economic development of Nigeria, which is a significant agenda of the current administration.
According to him, the milestone shipment marks a significant step forward in the implementation of the AfCFTA in Nigeria, which aims to promote intra-African trade and economic integration that provides Nigerian businesses the opportunity to export their products seamlessly, ultimately further paving the way for the country’s economic growth.
He explained that Nigeria’s current import-export ratio must be significantly reversed to ensure that the country’s import dependency is drastically reduced while reinforcing the export activities.
President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Avila Naturalle Limited, Dr. Temitope Mayegun, said the company is shipping some of its flagship products of high demand within the African region, which include raw shea butter, papaya bar soap, papaya shea body butter and coconut shea body butter to Kenya, under the guidance and facilitation of AfCFTA Nigeria.
She said the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative is a significant milestone both for the company and Nigeria. “It is a great privilege to be part of this historic moment in the development of trade in Africa. We are truly grateful to the AfCFTA Nigeria, and other government agencies involved in the facilitation of this great feat, including the Nigerian Customs Service and others”.
Mayegun noted that this initiative is significant as it is not only aligned with the strategic corporate objective of expanding the reach of the company’s products to a wider audience across the continent of Africa but also validates the capacity and readiness to harness the opportunities of the intra-Africa transborder trade.
She said, “With this inaugural shipping, Avila Naturalle aims to penetrate the African continental market expansively through our extensive distribution network and collaboration with new international sales partnerships”.
“We are embarking on what I will describe as an exciting new chapter, redefining the natural skincare terrain as part of our strategic business direction that emphasises productivity and international expansion”.
She said Avila Naturalle Limited is a Nigerian company that specialises in the production of genuinely natural skincare and wellness products. Promoting a healthier and happier society through its wide range of skincare products that are natural, healthy, safe from harmful substances and do not bleach the skin.
Mayegun explained that the company is committed to enriching lives while promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in its operations.
She noted that AfCFTA Nigeria, which is championed by the National Action Committee on AfCFTA, was set up in December 2019 to coordinate the activities of the various government agencies and private sector stakeholders to implement interventions to prepare Nigerian businesses for the AfCFTA.
She said the AfCFTA agreement would also motivate Nigerian businesses to expand their businesses to other African countries, thereby fostering business growth, increasing profit, and contributing substantially to the development of the manufacturing sector.
