Events

WTC Abuja Webinar Series: Exploring Nigeria’s Trade Advantage in a Shifting Global Landscape In an era of shifting trade patterns, economic nationalism, and supply chain realignments, businesses across the globe are seeking new markets that offer both resilience and potential for growth. In response to these evolving dynamics, the World Trade Center Abuja is pleased to announce the second edition of its Webinar Series, focused on helping global and local businesses navigate uncertainty and unlock opportunities in Nigeria’s evolving trade and investment landscape. Webinar Theme: “Nigeria’s Trade Competitiveness: Navigating Global Uncertainties and Breaking Barriers to Growth” 📅 Date: Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025🕚 Time: 11:00 AM WAT💻 Venue: Zoom🔗 Register Here Why Businesses Should Pay Attention As global trade becomes increasingly unpredictable, businesses that understand how to align their strategies with emerging markets and policy shifts will gain a significant advantage. Nigeria, with its vast population, expanding middle class, regional trade agreements, and reform-minded government, represents a strategic gateway into Africa’s broader market. Despite challenges in logistics, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks, Nigeria is actively working to enhance its trade competitiveness and attract foreign and domestic investment, especially in non-oil sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, technology, and services. This webinar is designed to help business leaders and investors understand: How to leverage global trade uncertainties for competitive positioning Where the policy and regulatory shifts in Nigeria are creating new openings Which sectors and regions in Nigeria are most primed for investment and expansion How to navigate trade barriers and access incentives for cross-border growth Expected Attendance 350+ participants including: Local and international business leaders Government stakeholders and trade agencies Investment facilitators and development finance institutions WTC network members and global trade actors Nigeria’s commitment to trade diversification, the AfCFTA framework, and growing digital adoption are converging to create a new frontier for business expansion. This webinar offers practical insights on how your business can tap into this momentum, despite global uncertainty. Join us for a solution-driven conversation that bridges policy insight with real business strategy. Together, let’s explore how businesses can thrive in uncertainty by betting on potential. Join us as we chart a path toward a more competitive, resilient, and inclusive trade future for Nigeria and the continent. For inquiries or collaboration opportunities, please contact: tradeservices@wtcabuja.com

NIGERIA’S TRADE COMPETITIVENESS: BUILDING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS & INVESTMENT CLIMATE Nigeria, as one of Africa's largest economies, holds immense potential for trade and investment. To unlock this potential and achieve sustainable economic growth, it is crucial to enhance the country's trade competitiveness by diversifying its investment climate and business environment to attract investments and promote trade. In achieving these goals, we will require sustained efforts, collaboration between the government and private sector, and a commitment to long-term development strategies in prioritizing the non-oil sector. This 120-minute webinar is scheduled on Tuesday, 30th July, 2024 by 14:00 WAT/9:00 EDT via Zoom as it will explore key promising sectors of the Nigerian economy that seeks to boost Nigeria’s trade competitiveness for sustainable business and investments by implementing reforms and strategies on the removal of investment bottlenecks. With participants from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), of the Nigerian Government, Trade Associations, Private Sector Companies.

WTC ABUJA has been announced the International partner of AFREXPO the organizers of HALAL EXPO NIGERIA. We use this opportunity to invite the entire international community and business delegates seeking to explore business opportunities in Nigeria and Africa to the world’s largest halal exhibition. The HALAL EXPO NIGERIA 2023 FAIR AND B2B CONFERENCE which is scheduled to hold from 29th – 31st August 2023 with the theme: STRENGTHENING THE NIGERIA HALAL ECOSYSTEM aims to showcase the huge opportunities and potential of Halal economy in Nigeria and Africa. The 2023 Expo cuts across over 30 sectors such as: Consumer Electronics, ICT Products, House Hold Products, Electrical Appliances, Fashion and Accessories, Digital and IT consumer products, Interior and Home Decoration, FMCG, Agriculture, vertical plantation, Diary products, Home furniture and utilities, craft items, foods, health and fitness, personal care, body spa fragrance, travel and tourism, handicraft, technology innovation, education, tourism, media, pharmaceutical products and cosmetics and lots more. Participants will have the unique opportunity to: MEET WITH AFRICA AND HALAL INDUSTRY DECISION MAKERS IN THE HOSTED BUYER PROGRAM! At the Halal Expo 2023, you will meet purchasing professionals from the target countries especially in Turkey, the Middle East, Central and Western Europe, the Balkans and Africa. PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD’S LARGEST HALAL SHOWCASE! Opportunity to showcase your products and services to international participants and increase your commercial share in the Halal sector at the world’s largest halal exhibit. DISCOVER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ACROSS 30 HALAL SECTORS! The Halal Expo 2023, which includes many sectors such as food, tourism, finance, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics Connect with key sector players and leading companies. BUSINESS COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS; Like never before, the halal industry is set to attract qualified professionals with business interests and investment potentials. Access to unique opportunities for the exhibition, which is the favorite of the Halal Sector in the world, attracts an influx of qualified professionals with important business investor portfolios. Insights on the Halal Market in Nigeria Halal banking: Trends & Opportunities. Halal finance for Start-ups and SMEs. For more information on how to exhibit, participate and attend as a visitor, please send an email to tradeservices@wtcabuja.com.

NIGERIA TRADE COMPETITIVENESS; IMPERATIVE FOR GROWTH Trade is adjudged as a vehicle of globalization and an enhancer of competitiveness. Competitiveness has therefore become synonymous with the measure of the performance or the growth potentials of a nation’s economy, the competitiveness of its developmental projects, its long-term growth and economic prosperity. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) index, Nigeria ranked 148th globally in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita (current US dollars), 50th in terms of total exports, 48th in terms of total imports, and 125th in terms of economic complexity in 2020. Even with perceived improvements in terms of trade and global interactions, Nigeria is still far off the mark with regard to the visible impact on the nation’s wellbeing. This 90-minute Webinar will explore the factors essential for building and launching a successful Trade Market and it will help establish the fact and highlight the key point that trade is not just a major vehicle of globalization and engine for growth, but a key facilitator in the enhancement of global competitiveness. The objective of the webinar are: ● To highlight the necessary changes in policy, regulations, and practices needed to support growth of Nigeria’s trade volume and exports. ● To discuss Nigeria’s trade position and ponder on the key priorities for World Trade Center Abuja (WTC Abuja) to engender change of the status quo. ● To emphasize the need for building a strong market position for Nigeria within the ambits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and outline recommendations that are imperative to unlock the constraints to growth, development, and expansion of Nigeria’s Trade competitiveness. ● Finally, to communicate the findings of the event to relevant authorities for information and monitoring.

NIGERIA TRADE COMPETITIVENESS; IMPERATIVE FOR GROWTH TIME: 4: 00 p.m. - 6: 00 p.m. WAT VENUE: Virtual (Microsoft Teams) KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo CON - Honorable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment PANELISTS: Prince Adetokunbo Kayode SAN - Vice President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). Professor Adesoji Adesugba - Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA). Ms. Oyin Solebo - Managing Director, Arm Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator. Professor Jonathan Aremu - Professor of International Economic Relations at the Covenant University. Dr. Ezra Yakusak - Executive Director/CEO of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). Dr. Miriam Onyebujoh, PhD, MBA, MA - Youth Skills Development Consultant. Trade is adjudged as a vehicle of globalization and an enhancer of competitiveness. Competitiveness has therefore become synonymous with the measure of the performance or the growth potentials of a nation’s economy, the competitiveness of its developmental projects, its long-term growth and economic prosperity. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) index, Nigeria ranked 148th globally in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita (current US dollars), 50th in terms of total exports, 48th in terms of total imports, and 125th in terms of economic complexity in 2020. Even with perceived improvements in terms of trade and global interactions, Nigeria is still far off the mark with regard to the visible impact on the nation’s wellbeing. To change the country's dismal narrative, it is imperative to build a robust trade ecosystem that will improve trade facilitation, terms and agreements, and volume. However, the present system tends to be burdensome on the economy due to its unfavorable tax regime, heavy debt burden, poor understanding of trade mechanics and other macro-economic indices. Currently, the debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio seems to be healthy from the government perspective, however, in considering the private sector lens, this ratio is not sustainable. Over the years, Nigeria’s trade agreement performance has been poor while that of some African Nations are rated highly especially, Kenya and Rwanda due to their tremendous effort to diversify and grow their export and production base. Nigeria, on the other hand, records poor performance in implementing Agreements such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). To turn around and sustain the future growth of Nigeria’s production base and export, there is a need to drive agenda that would improve our competitiveness in trade, reduce the burden of tax on manufacturers and produce more goods that will compete favorably in the international market This will in turn gross more revenue, connect to businesses, and create value. At the same time, development of the non-oil sector such as agriculture, property development and manufacturing amongst others should be given priority attention in order to improve earnings for both the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy.