The Consular General, Federal Republic of Germany, Bernd von Munchow-Pohi, has called on Nigeria to pay more attention to agro-processing so as to increase its export revenue and improve country’s potential for agricultural commodities and food production.
Muchow-Pohi disclosed this in Lagos at the official opening of the 7th edition of the agrofood & plastprintpack trade show and conference, organized by Fairtrade in conjunction with the Organization for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA).
OTACCWA is a multi-sectoral group of professionals, companies and organizations in Nigeria and ECOWAS countries responsible for encouraging investment in innovation, research, development and education towards the development of the Cold Chain industry.
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The organization facilitate and foster the development of multi-modal transportation facilities for all perishable commodities and other products, pharmaceuticals and food requiring controlled temperature handling.
The Consular General noted that the sector has the vast potential to drive a more sustainable growth in Africa’s most populous nation in terms of job creation and revenue diversification, adding that many business opportunities are yet to be fully explored and many new partnerships are yet to be formed.
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“The trade balance of the sector as a whole remains negative. This will only change and become a net positive when Nigeria makes some bigger steps on the value chain by processing more quality food products that can compete and this will also help to cut imports. This I believe is the only way forward,” he added.
The Managing Director of Fairtrade Messe, Paul Maerz, disclosed that Nigeria spent a total of €390 million in 2020 on food and packaging technology as the largest importer of packaging technology in Africa, just ahead of Egypt well ahead of South Africa Nigeria, Morocco, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and Ghana.
