Nigeria’s Trade Export To UK Doubles –Official

Mr Mike Purves, the Director, Trade and Investment, UK in Nigeria, said yesterday that the Nigerian export trade volume to the UK has doubled.

Purves said this at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) Day, at the ongoing 2011 Lagos Trade Fair in Lagos.

According to him, there is a proof that the trading balances between Nigeria and the UK have changed over the years.

He said that the UK wanted to see Nigeria as a partner in their trading relationship, adding that its ministerial visit to Nigeria this year alone attest to that.

“We have had eight ministerial visits including the Prime Minister when he came in July. And that is full times the level of visits we have over the last four years. So, it is a very pleasing trend and one we want to develop very much.

“And we see the relationship not as the UK selling goods to Nigeria. We see the relationship very much as the UK being a partner of Nigeria in their trading relationship.

“The most recent trade we gazetted reflect that because the common perception that the trading balances is always in favour of the UK but actually that balance shifted over the last figure.

“It is interesting to know that Nigeria’s trade within the year doubled with the last estimate. UK exports to Nigeria went up by 25 per cent. So it is a very healthy relationship between the two and the one we are very very keen to continue.”

The President of NBCC, Mr Emeka Awagu,  said its exhibition of Made in Nigeria goods in London, Birmingham and Coventry in 2010 showed that Nigerian products were lacking in product packaging.

He said that Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) need to improve on their product packaging and presentation.

“Most of the Nigerian products on display in those areas were poorly packaged and consequently not ready for the competitive global market.

“Our SMEs entrepreneurs thus need to be guided on improving their packaging standards.

“The NBCC will commence specially designed workshops on packaging for SMEs among other capacity building programmes for businesses for members and non-members alike in 2012.”