Facilitation of export trade to lead discussion at NIMPORT confab

As part of its effort to ensure that Nigeria comes out of the current economic downturn, this year’s Nigeria International Maritime Port and Terminal Conference and Exhibition (NIMPORT) will be bringing stakeholders together to discuss on the need for Nigeria to focus on producing export commodities as a way to cushion the effect of recession.

The conference will make a call to the port terminal and logistics sector to re-plan, adapt, rebuild and invest in facilities and services that would support this national aspiration, while the government will need to review its policies towards accommodating the realities on ground.

Fortune Idu, chairman, NIMPORT organising committee said that the conference slated to hold on 23-25 August 2016 at Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre Abuja, will showcase the role of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in promoting international trade facilitation, which is key to Nigeria economic recovery. “It will also look at the problem of regional trade and how trade activities within the Gulf of Guinea ought to be documented, regulated and passed through the port gateways for increased revenue generation.”

Idu further stated that the planned conference will bring maritime industry leaders to network and discuss on pressing issues relating to global maritime trade, port and logistics development and the role of maritime industry in Nigeria’s quest to diversify the economy as well as how to improve the non-oil export.

The three days conference themed: ‘Enhancing the Logistics Chain to Facilitate Global Export Trade Access,’ will be declared open by Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, while the plenary session will be chaired by Mohammed Nagogo, a former director of Maritime Services of Federal Ministry of Transportation.

NIMPORT is an annual conference and exhibition that promotes development and attracts investment into the maritime, ports and logistics sector. It is organised by FCI International Ltd- an international development consulting company, in collaboration with the Nigeria Maritime Business Promotion Committee members and strategic partners, which include, The Federal Ministry of Transportation, NPA, the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shipper’s Council, Nigeria Navy, Nigeria Customs, Nigeria Inland waterways, INTEL, LADOL, NEPZA, NEPC.