By 
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is actively pursuing the elimination of physical trade barriers through digital technology to foster economic growth across diverse locations.
Kashifu Inuwa, the Director-General of NITDA, represented by Engr Salisu Kaka, the Acting Director of the Digital Economy Development Department (DED), shared this vision while delivering a goodwill message at the inaugural ‘Nigeria – Cote D’Ivoire Business Roundtable and Exhibition’ during the 64th ECOWAS Summit in Abuja.
Co-hosted by the Nigerian Association of Chambers, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), on behalf of the private sector, and the federal government of Nigeria, coordinated by the Economic, Trade, and Investment Department of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event aimed to deepen private sector engagement between the two West African countries.
Inuwa emphasized the pivotal role of technology in propelling economic development in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. He highlighted the vast opportunities technology presents for economic growth, enabling businesses to advertise, sell, and promote products, services, or ideas from the comfort of their zones.
Encouraging Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to embrace technology, Inuwa stressed its potential to enhance their contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He linked this encouragement to the 5-pillar Strategic Agenda of the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, focusing on effective policy, robust infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship, and capital.
Ambassador Akinremi Bolaji, the Director of the Economic, Trade and Investment Department at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the event’s significance in assessing readiness, preparation, inter-agency collaboration, and public-private sector engagement. He expressed the intention to expand Nigeria’s private sector presence in Cote D’Ivoire and the West African sub-region.
The event, conceived to address challenges in deepening economic relations between the two countries, featured organizations such as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), National Action Committee of AFCFTA, among others. The second edition is scheduled to take place in Cote D’Ivoire in January 2024, alongside the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition.
Comments