ACCIMA, Thailand To Partner On Trade Investments

The Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), has proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on trade and investment with Thailand.

The Commercial Councilor, Royal Thai Embassy Mr Boon Intiratana made this known in Aba weekend  on Saturday during an embassy lecture series organised by ACCIMA.

According to him, the MoU was aimed at promoting agriculture, tourism and agro processing.

Intiratana, who was the guest lecturer at this year’s edition of the lecture, stated that the Thai government wanted to partner the chamber in agriculture and agro allied processing.

He said that Nigeria had potential to become one of the biggest exporters of cassava if the sector was well developed.

According to him, Nigeria is the biggest producer of cassava in the world with 44 million tonnes annually.

Intiratana revealed that Thailand exported 10.6 million tonnes of rice in 2011 as the biggest producer of rice in the world.

He said that though “Nigeria is the biggest cassava producer in the world with a 44 million tonnes per year, the country can only export little or none of the quantity.’’

He attributed the inability of Nigeria to export much of its cassava to lack of capacity to process and add value to the product.

He said that the embassy would establish Thai-Nigeria Business Forum in May in Bangkok.

He promised to extend invitation to the private sector in Nigeria through the state government and ACCIMA.

The President of  ACCIMA Chief Eleanya Okoroji, expressed optimism that the proposed MoU would open up trade and investment between the chamber and Thailand if signed.

ACCIMA boss added: “We decided to invite the Thai embassy to visit Aba to create opportunities for Aba businessmen.’’

He said that the invitation was also to enable the people of the state have contacts with their counterparts in Thailand and attract investments from that country.