Aba shoemakers in AfCFTA test-run with trade fairs in Togo, Cameroun, Uganda
By Godfrey Ofurum, in Aba
Aba shoemakers, under the aegis of Association of Leather and Allied Industrialists of Nigeria (ALAIN), will participate in a series of trade exhibitions, in some African countries, organised by UB Brima Company, an investment and marketing promotion outfit with headquarters in Cameroon.
The trade exhibitions, which will be held in Togo, Cameroun, Cote d’Ivoire and Uganda, between September and October, 2022, is aimed at sensitising local manufacturers to key into the proposed African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) project.
AfCFTA is an ambitious trade pact to form the world’s largest free trade area, by creating a single market for goods and services of almost 1.3 billion people across Africa and deepening the economic integration of Africa.
It aims at reducing tariffs among members and covers policy areas, such as trade facilitation and services, as well as regulatory measures, such as sanitary standards and technical barriers to trade.
Ruben Tamba, chairman and chief executive officer, UB Brima, a subsidiary of United Brothers Company Limited, explained that its intention of partnering other African firms to organise the fairs is to encourage local manufacturers to key into the AfCFTA project.
According to him, we are part of the project to encourage manufacturers in Africa, to know that we stand to benefit from one market in Africa, which is the largest market in the world, because Africa is the largest continent in the world.
He described the project as a credible initiative, noting that they are working hard to see African entrepreneurs, manufacturers key into the implementation of the new market.
On his relationship with ALAIN, Tamba explained that his firm’s partnership with ALAIN, has been fruitful, noting that they visited the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in Abuja, where they had fruitful talks with the executive director, which according to him, yielded to an important training, which is going to be shouldered by the NEPC in collaboration with his company and ALAIN to train those in the finished leather and garment industries in Aba.
He stated that his company and some other African companies are working hard to see that artisans and manufacturers key into the implementation of AfCFTA.
“Consequently, trade fairs have to be organised to enable them to market their products in other African countries and to penetrate such markets.
“So, to that effect, we are planning a trade fair in Togo from September 11 to 15. From there, we will be moving to Cameroon from September 27 to October 1, 2022.
“After the Togo and Cameroon events, we shall be moving to Kampala, Uganda and Rwanda and subsequently Mauritius,” he said.
He observed that products made in Aba are of international quality and encouraged local manufacturers to certify their products to meet required international standards.
He advised local manufacturers to key into AfCFTA implementation, noting that the project is achievable.
Ken Anyanwu, national secretary, ALAIN, affirmed that they are ready for the fair and especially in exploring the AfCFTA business window to move their products across Africa.
He explained that their products are already found everywhere in Africa, but noting that it goes through third parties.
He however noted that what the new African market will succeed in doing is that it would bring the manufacturers and the buyers to meet.
“With the AfCFTA window, we can now control the market and data will now be available for planning,” he stated.