How Commonwealth States Can Benefit From Regional Trade, Investment – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has identified trade and investment
facilitation among Commonwealth nations as sure means of generating
resources for sustainable development.

He also outlined Ease of Doing Business and regional integration
that expands markets with safeguards against injurious trade
practices from third parties as well as more inclusive growth with
the empowerment of women and the youth, as factors that are capable
of making business among Commonwealth countries easier.

He proffered these solutions while delivering his keynote
address on Wednesday, at the Commonwealth Business Forum at
Guildhall in London.

He said provision of a platform for Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs); a radical expansion of human capital for the 21st Century,
what is now known as “Knowledge Economy”; and Provision of hard and
software infrastructure for the 21st Century Digital Economy to
boost e-commerce, increase efficiency, solve development problems
and enhance cyber security, are other factors necessary for an
easier business environment.

The Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) with the subject “Making
Business Easier between Commonwealth Countries” is part of events
at this year’s Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting, CHOGM-25.

According to Buhari, Nigeria has already started championing
this course with events such as the “High-Level Trade and
Investment Facilitation Forum for Development” convened by Nigeria
in November 2017 in Abuja in partnership with the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“The Abuja Statement from this Forum: “Deepening Africa’s
Integration in the Global Economy through Trade and Investment
Facilitation for Development,” has become a global and multilateral
reference point. We believe that the Commonwealth should lend its
support to these types of activities, as a sound model, for Making
Business Easier Amongst Commonwealth Countries.

“To underscore Nigeria’s commitment to spreading prosperity
throughout the Commonwealth, in the past 6 months, Nigeria
Co-Chaired with the United Kingdom, the “UK All-Parliamentary Group
for Trade out of Poverty” (APPG-TOP). The Report of this
Commonwealth Inquiry Report was launched on 3rd April 2018.

“Nigeria affirms its commitment to the principal message from
this Commonwealth Inquiry Group that Nigeria co-chaired with the
UK. The surest, most sustainable way to lift millions of people out
of poverty across the Commonwealth is through boosting trade and
investment.

“We believe that, we, as Leaders in the Commonwealth, should
grasp the opportunity and agree a major new focus on trade and
investment for inclusive development,” the President stated at the
high level meeting in United Kingdom.

President Muhammadu Buhari has identified trade and investment
facilitation among Commonwealth nations as sure means of generating
resources for sustainable development.

He also outlined Ease of Doing Business and regional integration
that expands markets with safeguards against injurious trade
practices from third parties as well as more inclusive growth with
the empowerment of women and the youth, as factors that are capable
of making business among Commonwealth countries easier.

He proffered these solutions while delivering his keynote
address on Wednesday, at the Commonwealth Business Forum at
Guildhall in London.

He said provision of a platform for Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs); a radical expansion of human capital for the 21st Century,
what is now known as “Knowledge Economy”; and Provision of hard and
software infrastructure for the 21st Century Digital Economy to
boost e-commerce, increase efficiency, solve development problems
and enhance cyber security, are other factors necessary for an
easier business environment.

The Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) with the subject “Making
Business Easier between Commonwealth Countries” is part of events
at this year’s Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting, CHOGM-25.

According to Buhari, Nigeria has already started championing
this course with events such as the “High-Level Trade and
Investment Facilitation Forum for Development” convened by Nigeria
in November 2017 in Abuja in partnership with the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“The Abuja Statement from this Forum: “Deepening Africa’s
Integration in the Global Economy through Trade and Investment
Facilitation for Development,” has become a global and multilateral
reference point. We believe that the Commonwealth should lend its
support to these types of activities, as a sound model, for Making
Business Easier Amongst Commonwealth Countries.

“To underscore Nigeria’s commitment to spreading prosperity
throughout the Commonwealth, in the past 6 months, Nigeria
Co-Chaired with the United Kingdom, the “UK All-Parliamentary Group
for Trade out of Poverty” (APPG-TOP). The Report of this
Commonwealth Inquiry Report was launched on 3rd April 2018.

“Nigeria affirms its commitment to the principal message from
this Commonwealth Inquiry Group that Nigeria co-chaired with the
UK. The surest, most sustainable way to lift millions of people out
of poverty across the Commonwealth is through boosting trade and
investment.

“We believe that, we, as Leaders in the Commonwealth, should
grasp the opportunity and agree a major new focus on trade and
investment for inclusive development,” the President stated at the
high level meeting in United Kingdom.