The President of Globe Chambers of Commerce and Industry HON. NWABUEZE BUCHI GEORGE speaks on the role Africa must play to produce the next leader of the World Trade Organization WTO and to think of what we can do to ensure that what we are practicing is the true definition of trade with other continents during the PANFID Webinar session by Phumza Dyani the founder, Pan African Network for Investment and Development.
He started by expressing his unalloyed love for the promotion of robust effective international trade as a profession, the session can not be better organized than the present stage of the Africa Continent economic life ensuring the maximization of the prospects of trade relations with the other continents.
He further said that the Africa continent is endowed with enviable numerous resources that when well harnessed would be able to put the continent in the right economic perspective in the world.
It could be said that good effort is being projected towards making good exploits by utilizing the opportunity, however, it would appear that this is the best time for us to organized ourselves, be initiative and creative aimed at taking the advantage of the continent’s potentials to become a leading force in international trade.
There is power in unity and we all know the economic benefit to the continent if we speak one voice while interacting with the other continent.
He said It is on records and of common knowledge of how the Africa continent contributed in no small way towards the economic growth of some countries today commonly referred to as “Developed Countries” with the supply of Mineral and Manpower resources.
The Africa continent remains resourceful, strong, and rich and could be the hub of world trade rather than seeking for Aids from others.
He further said the continent needs to step up on its international trade activities with the other continents by taking advantage of the existing opportunities,to enable Africa to take her rightful position in international trade.
He said ‘’As an international trade expert, I believe that in most cases what some African countries do in the name of trading is to aid the development of foreign countries, who then pay us just a little to aid our survival.’’
With mismanaging factors taken note of, Africa has never gotten what it deserved in the world trade circle and the simple reason is that the ignorance and greed of our leaders has been encouraging the leaders of the World Trade Organization and other related bodies to turn their face the other side, when something is going wrong here.
With the candidates we have in this race, we believe they will be changing a lot when one of them wins.
With Africa as the head of WTO, we are sure to open eyes that have been shut. We are sure to turn heads that have been facing the other way and we are also sure that Africa can thrive on the true definition of trade where Africa can be involved in mutually beneficial trade with whosoever that is involved in it.
Again, I also believe that with an African DG of the WTO, it will also be a wakeup call for reigning and emerging African leaders who have in the past been involved in trade agreements that would be termed funny in most cases.
Having championed trade summits between Nigeria and many countries, I have come to understand what they want and how they want it. Africa needs a strong voice and this is the right time for us to make that move.
He said Dr.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Amina Chawahir Mohamed Jibril are great individuals who can walk in and make a great difference in WTO with the necessary support that will enable them to go far in the race,these are people who can repair the damaging global trade relationship we are witnessing at the moment.
He emphasized that empowering women is one great way to empower the world, because no one connects to everyone in the world more than women.
The woman and African factor is huge for the continent at a point where women empowerment and gender equality is among the most discussed issues when we gather.
The world can only be what it is supposed to be when we all join hands to complete the circle of life, innovation, leadership, trade and development.
I feel that should one of our candidates win, they will be inspiring more than a million others to aspire to be who they want to be.
Dr.NgoziOkonjo-Iweala and Amina Chawahir Mohamed Jibril can win and back here in Nigeria, they have our blessings because we want to see trade flourish in Africa and hopefully through one of them.
Globe Chambers of Commerce and Industry will organize a joint trade, economic and investment programme that will further encourage investments in Africa and also show Africans how they can explore in other parts of the world.
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