Zenith Bank Targets Non-oil Export Boom With 10th Trade Seminar

Zenith Bank Plc will on August 25 host the 10th edition of its International Trade Seminar, focusing on strategies to unlock Nigeria’s non-oil export potential and accelerate economic growth.
This was contained in a statement issued by the bank on Wednesday in Lagos.
The bank said the seminar with the theme “Unlocking Value and Harnessing Growth in Non-oil Export”, will bring together policymakers, regulators, exporters, manufacturers, investors and other stakeholders.
The bank said the virtual event would examine ways to move Nigeria beyond raw commodity exports by developing competitive value chains, expanding market access and improving trade infrastructure and financing.
It said the discussions would also focus on how businesses could leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to access regional markets and deepen intra African trade.
The seminar will feature the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Mr Wamkele Mene and Chief Executive Officer of Plot Enterprise Ghana Ltd., Mrs Patricia Poku Diaby.
Other speakers include the immediate past President of the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah and Mr Abba Bello, Managing Director of the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM Bank).
Also to speak are: Mr Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service; and Ms Aderinola Shonekan, Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Central Bank of Nigeria.
The event will also feature representatives of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and leading private sector companies.
Zenith Bank said the discussions would provide practical perspectives on export financing, customs and port efficiency, regulation, market access and the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses.
The bank said AfCFTA would be a major focus, given its potential to connect Nigerian businesses to a continental market of more than one billion people.
According to the bank, Nigerian enterprises must strengthen their value chains and competitiveness to fully benefit from the opportunities created by regional integration.
It said the International Trade Seminar had, over the years, provided a platform for government, regulators, businesses and financial institutions to discuss challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
The bank said the 10th edition would seek practical answers to how Nigeria could derive greater value from its non-oil exports and translate its productive capacity into sustainable economic growth.
The seminar will be streamed live on Zoom, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok.
The bank urged interested participants to register through its website.