Anthony Nwakaegho/
Indications have emerged that businesses of
European Union (EU)
origin are poised to seeking more business opportunities and partnerships in
Nigeria, especially in the agricultural sector, NaijaAgroNet reports.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi
Adesina confirmed this after a meeting the stakeholders on European
Union-Nigeria business forum in the move
being made by Europe and reiterated President Goodluck Jonathan’s support in
getting the country to move towards this fresh produce export market with
Europe.
“There
is a lot of opportunities for Europe and Nigeria for agribusiness investment
partnerships. We plan to play big in the horticulture market in Europe because
Nigeria is closer to Europe than Kenya, Tanzania or even Mozambique. We are
going to take advantage of our big size in the horticulture market.
“The largest market is in Europe, but that
market is quite difficult to penetrate because it is based on a lot of safety
standards, consumer standards that we have to meet, so we have been working
together with the ambassadors of the European countries to prepare Nigeria to
enter that global horticulture market,” Adesina said.
He explained that issues such as
certification, farm audits, and contracts with supermarkets were hurdles to be crossed
which is being handled in consultation with the ambassadors of those European countries,
while National Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS), an agency under the
ministry is the one that gives certification to farmers that want to export.
NaijaAgroNet gathered from the
Chief Operating Officer (COO), Nigerian
German Business Association, Jennifer Ijeoma Anoika, that “a lot of
Nigerians do not know the regulations or the changes in the regulations, the
SMEs in particular. We want to see more small companies such as Tropical
Natural, which is doing quite well with the Dudu Osun, with export products.”
Lawrence Ohue-Inegbenoise, from Friesland
Campina, said the company‘s plans is to get more indigenous farmers and
investors involved in sourcing milk for its production.
NaijaAgroNet
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