Business a.m
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company PLC (NAHCO) has called on the federal government to lend its support in order to facilitate the objectives of the export packaging and processing centre.
Seinde Fadeni, chairman, NAHCO’s board of directors, emphasised the importance of government support in enabling the company to achieve its goals. He stressed that NAHCO, as a private sector operator, values the support of the government to make the business environment less challenging.
He noted that the occasion of the launch was not to dwell on the many challenges that NAHCO faces while operating at the airport, but rather to celebrate its success and express gratitude to everyone who contributed to the establishment of the export and processing centre.
“We have achieved this and the new task is to set a new goal. Our only request to the government on this occasion would be that; should we need your support in our quest to move aviation forward in Nigeria in our own little way, please be there for us.
“At NAHCO, we firmly believe that there is a lot of foreign exchange that Nigeria can earn through food exports. We have come to lead the charge. We would need the government to give us all the support we need,” he said.
Fadeni stressed that the livelihood and prosperity of many Nigerians depend on the export of perishables. He urged the government to convene a meeting of stakeholders to discuss ways to support and develop this segment of the economy.
“And to all our stakeholders, the airlines, the agents, exporters, farmers, I tell you this today: NAHCO is ready for export business. You cannot get this facility anywhere else in Nigeria. It is built with you in mind. I urge you to use it,” the NAHCO chairman added.
Also speaking at the event,Indranil Gupta, NAHCO’s group managing director, stressed the importance of non-oil exports in strengthening the economic might of Nigeria.
According to Gupta, exports have a positive impact on economic development through two main mechanisms: generating foreign exchange earnings and creating jobs. These factors,he explained, help to increase the purchasing power of Nigerians by putting money into their pockets.
