NACCIMA TASKS D-8 COUNTRIES ON INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVED BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

By NBF News

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has called on governments of D-8 countries to demonstrate political will by giving priority attention to infrastructure development.

Dr Hebert Ajayi, the National President of NACCIMA made the call in Abuja at the forum of the 8-Developing countries Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

'The time is now ripe for member countries to design creative and pragmatic approaches to assist the SMEs to grow, create new jobs and drastically reduce unemployment, reduce poverty as well as create desired wealth.

Therefore, governments of the D-8 countries must demonstrate the political will to achieve set goals by giving priority attention to the issues of capacity building.

'Access to capital, information technology, infrastructural development and improved business operating environment for SMEs to thrive,' he said. Ajayi said that the aim of the forum was to sufficiently sensitise the member states to enhance the growth of the SMEs in their countries.

According to him, this will particularly boost the establishment of at least one small and medium-scale industry in each of the 774 Local Government Areas in the country. He said it would also ensure the realisation of President Goodluck Jonathan's Vision 20:2020 Agenda.

Ajayi said the theme of the forum 'Multilateral Collaboration for Wealth Creation Through Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)' was appropriate, considering Nigeria's efforts to recover its economy.

He noted that the governments of the developing countries were making efforts to fast track their economic growth by refocusing economic policies on non-oil exports through the promotion and empowerment of SMEs.

The D-8 federation of chambers of commerce was established in 1997 to enhance economic cooperation among member countries.

The D-8 countries are Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey and Iran. Their objective is to diversity their economies and creates new opportunities in trade relations.