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American markets now open for Nigerian textiles and apparels |
2004-7-19
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With the passage of AGOA ACT by the US Government, Nigeria’s effort at diversifying its economy has received a boost for exportation of its textiles and apparels duty-free into the American market.
This was disclosed jointly by Information and National Orientation Minister, Chief Chukwuemeka Chikelu, accompanied by the Minister of Commerce, Ambassador Idris Waziri, that of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olu Adeniji and their Health counterpart, Professor Eyitayo Lambo, on Wednesday after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
According to Chikelu the development was the result of sustained efforts of President Olusegun Obasanjo to impress on the American Government, as well as the unrelenting efforts of the Commerce Minister and that of the Special adviser to the President on AGOA, Mrs. Modupe Sasore to ensure that the country benefited from AGOA.
He stated, “For many years, Nigeria has not been taking advantage of it and it has not had the benefit of this regime,” claiming that “several other Africans have been exporting millions of dollar goods into the US and Nigeria has not met the qualification.
“The implication is that Nigerian textiles and apparel industries have the opportunity now to export directly into the US market duty-free. That is a major plus for our industry,” he added.
The Information Minister informed that the development was exciting the government as it would aid the nation’s ailing textile industry, and also improve employment in general in the country. |
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