Turning Nigeria into net exporter of palm produce
A conference which has the potential of helping to turn Nigeria from a net importer into a net exporter of palm produce will be holding this year December 2nd to 4th in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Kayode Babatola, vice president, Southwest National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria
(NPPAN) and member, 2013 coordinating committee of this conference- International Palm Produce Conference (IPPC) 2013 made this known. In a press statement, Babatola stated that the IPPC will bring together stakeholders and their allies to discuss, review, analyse issues, challenges and prospects in the sector. The theme of this conference is ‘Investment in oil and palm produce and its derivatives : a panacea for African economic growth and sustenance.’
According to Babatola, Nigeria is currently the fourth largest producer of palm oil in the world after Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The organisers of IPPC however express concern that Nigeria remains a large producer and a net importer of palm oil.
Babatola says, “With the current drive by many African governments, corporate bodies and individuals, the need to step up investment in oil palm development both in the upstream and downstream sectors of the value chain cannot be overemphasised. This requires adequate attention by prospective investors and there is therefore a need to create a forum which will galvanise investor’s interest in terms of capacity building, provision of easy access to finance, land and tax rebate regime to boost the sector. This conference will no doubt provide the platform for confluence of interests to achieve its overriding objectives.”
The conference organised by the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria
(NPPAN) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment with support from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development seeks to use palm oil and palm produce manufacturing as effective methods of providing employment for millions of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled people in Nigeria.
“Palm oil accounts for 34 percent of the world’s annual production of vegetable oil and 63 percent of the global exports of vegetable oils. Palm fruits from which palm oil is extracted is of immense value,” says Babatola.
The conference therefore seeks to expose participants to existing technological innovations relevant to palm produce and its derivatives, harness the activities of plantation owners, processors, researchers, investors, with a view to synergising their efforts for efficient and effective industry practice in order to improve investment opportunities.
The chief host is Uday Pilani, managing director, Presco, Benin, Edo state and special guests expected are President Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Aganga, minister of industry, trade and investment.