Fidelia Okafor

The United States has charged the Federal Government to replicate the one-stop-shop for import and export in the country to improve efficient processing on standard products in line with its economic diversification agenda.

The Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Ray Hotz, made the call during a courtesy visit on the Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Osita Aboloma, in his office in Abuja.

Hotz said government’s plan to key into such initiative would help to fast track the development of the country’s agro-allied, manufacturing and solid minerals sectors.

According to him, the visit was to explore opportunities for reconnecting the economic section of the embassy in Nigeria with SON. It is also aimed at ascertaining the scope of its operation and priorities with regard to import and export.

The US Economic Counsellor expressed concern over the bureaucracy involved in exporting products out of Nigeria, which according to him, has encouraged more informal transactions.

He listed other areas of concern to include accurate statistics on the rejection of Nigeria’s exports, substandard products importation and their sources, smuggling and copyright issues.

He stated that the embassy was already providing trade capacity development assistance through the Nigeria-America Chamber of Commerce and was prepared to explore greater opportunities for collaboration with the country through SON, especially to enable Nigerians take optimum advantage of the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA).

While responding, the Director General, SON, enumerated his organisation’s priorities to include, facilitating ease of doing business, supporting the diversification of the nation’s economy, citizen protection, fighting corruption as well as promoting development of micro, small and medium enterprises through capacity building initiatives and protection from unfair competition.