President Muhammadu Buhari will next week Monday, declare the 9th edition of African Shippers’ Day open in Lagos, with the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’Azu Jaji Sambo as the chief host.
Also, the Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Mr. Wamkele Mene, is expected to make a keynote presentation on the topic: “AfCFTA: Vehicle for Africa’s Economic Growth & Development.”
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos yesterday, Tuesday.
The statement noted that the nation’s Port Economic Regulator, Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC) will hold the 9th edition of African Shippers’ Day in Lagos from Monday 16th January 2023 to Wednesday 18th January, 2023 at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The programme has the theme: “African Continental Free Trade Agreement: A Veritable Platform for African Shippers to Mainstream into Global Trade.”
According to the statement, other speakers are the Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN), Mrs. Olubunmi Osuntuyi who will speak on “The Role of INCOTERMS 2020 in the Implementation of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)” and Manager, Trade Finance, Mr Nwachukwu Remigus African Export-Import Bank will make a presentation on “Payment Systems in International Trade.”
The African Shippers’ Day is primarily aimed at creating a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences amongst shippers’ organisations in the West and Central African Sub-regions, discussions on issues that will improve maritime trade, and disseminating information on the role of Shippers’ Councils and UASC.
The event will be attended by member countries of the Union of African Shippers’ Councils as well as other countries maintaining associate status with the Union, Shippers and maritime stakeholders.
Recall that Ghana hosted the 8th edition of African Shippers’ Day in 2021.