The federal government has called on Nigerian businesses and manufacturers to use the ECOWAS Trade Liberalism Scheme (ETLS) treaty to boost the country’s export basket.

Maitama Tuggar, Minister of External Affairs, said this in his message to a one-day Sensitisation Workshop on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) in Awka, the capital of Anambra, on Friday.

The workshop was themed “Exploring the Benefit of ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme in the Region.

Mr Tuga was represented by Amb. Obinna Onuwu is the director of international organisations in the ministry.

He said the workshop’s essence was to bring information on procedures, requirements, and benefits of ETLS to the doorsteps of the South-East business community.

The ETLS initiative of ECOWAS aimed to enhance cooperation and integration in trade, ensuring economic stability by creating an economic union within the region for the well-being of the community’s citizens. 

He said ETLS would give local manufacturers access to a market of over 400 million consumers across the 15 ECOWAS member states.

According to Mr Tuga, it will also expand their customer base, boost revenues, and significantly contribute to the nation’s overall economic growth and prosperity.

“Presently, Nigeria has 946 enterprises with over 10,000 products and the primary goal is to establish a customs union among all member states, with the ultimate objective of completely eliminatíng Customs duties and implementing a unified customs policy. 

“It represents an ideal opportunity to foster greater economic integration and unlock the immense potential of intra-regional trade. 

“Our presence here underscores the federal government’s collective commitment to harnessing the power of trade as a catalyst for growth and prosperity,” he said.

The minister called on businessmen and women in Anambra and the entire South-East geopolitical zone to take advantage of the opportunity and register their companies into the scheme to enjoy the numerous benefits therein.

For his part, Governor Chukwuma Soludo said how external trade is facilitated is important to the prosperity of businesses and the health of the economy.

Mr Soludo, represented by Ernest Ezeajughi, his chief of staff, said his government would continue to support business with his numerous friendly policies, which earned Anambra the best-rated state in ease of doing business in southern Nigeria.

He urged businesses to embrace ETLS and participate competitively in the West African subregional market.

(NAN)