I would wish to commence this remark by expressing my sincere appreciation to PhumzaDyani and every other person that organized this wonderful webinar session for their resourcefulness and understanding of the dynamism of the system.......
Besides my unalloyed love for the promotion of robust effective international trade as a profession, the session can not be better organized than the present stage of the Africa Continent economic life when the obvious need exists for her to cart a common position towards ensuring the maximization of the prospects of trade relations with the other continents.
In the same vein, I also wish to use this opportunity to welcome and appreciate my fellow speakers and the other participants in this webinar session. I note with joy that your presence is the reason for organizing the session with success.
THIS TIME AS THE RIGHT TIME FOR THE IMPORTANT TURNING POINT
There is no gain repeating here that the Africa continent is endowed with enviable numerous resources that when well harnessed would be able to put the continent in the right economic perspective in the world. It could be said that good effort is being projected towards making good exploits by utilizing the opportunity, however, it would appear that this is the best time for us to organized ourselves, be initiative and creative aimed at taking the advantage of the continent’s potentials to become a leading force in international trade. There is power in unity and we all know the economic benefit to the continent if we speak one voice while interacting with the other continent.
It is on records and of common knowledge of how the Africa continent contributed in no small way towards the economic growth of some countries today commonly referred to as “Developed Countries” with the supply of Mineral and Manpower resources. This feat can be resuscitated, developed, and build on to our advantage. The Africa continent remains resourceful, strong, and rich and could be the hub of world trade rather than seeking for Aids from others.
The continent needs to step up on its international trade activities with the other continents by taking advantage of the existing opportunities. Kindly permit me, therefore, to say that this is one of the areas the WTO DG would help to concentrate on to enable Africa to take her rightful position in international trade.
To me, the most important turning point is not just casting the vote, rather it is who is voted for with the patriotic understanding that the race for not for one out of the about 1.216 billion people in Africa but a race for the entire continent and inclusive of those in the diaspora with the hope to move the continent to a greater height.
TRADE NOT AID IS EVERYTHING
A well profound key component factor that has being an impediment in having a sustainable trade and investment in Nigeria and Africa at large.
As an international trade expert, I believe that most cases what some African countries do in the name of trading is to aid the development of foreign countries, who then pay us just a little to aid our survival.
With mismanaging factors taken note of, Africa has never gotten what it deserved in the world trade circle and the simple reason is that the ignorance and greed of our leaders has been encouraging the leaders of the World Trade Organization and other related bodies to turn their face the other side, when something is going wrong here.
With the candidates we have in this race, we believe they will be changing a lot when one of them wins.
With Africa as the head of WTO, we are sure to open eyes that have been shut. We are sure to turn heads that have been facing the other way and we are also sure that Africa can thrive on the true definition of trade where Africa can be involved in mutually beneficial trade with whosoever that is involved in it.
Again, I also believe that with an African DG of the WTO, it will also be a wakeup call for reigning and emerging African leaders who have in the past been involved in trade agreements that would be termed funny in most cases.
Trade to me is a balanced and mutual give and take situation and not one where the ‘bigger party’ per say, leverages on the desperation of the other party to exploit them and then sends them aids in return.
Why do you think most western nations are coming back to Africa? Why do you think everyone is fighting to win the soul of the most prosperous African nations? Why do you think Africa is always coming up in discussions like a new world? Why do you think the west is still interested and haven’t they finished the resources in Africa?
They understand the position of Africa at the moment. Our best brains want to leave the shores of this continent and it is also the same for our best resources; they must travel abroad, refined and then brought back more expensively for us to buy. These things can change if we have the right persons ensuring the right things are being done when it comes to trade in the continent.
Having championed trade summits between Nigeria and many countries, I have come to understand what they want and how they want it. Africa needs a strong voice and this is the right time for us to make that move.
QUALITY NEUTRAL PARTY
So far, our candidates are good for the job. Dr.NgoziOkonjo-Iweala and Amina Chawahir Mohamed Jibril are great individuals who can walk in and make a great difference in WTO.
With their qualities, Africa will not be chasing these positions by sentiment, but by merit. All we have to do is ensure that they receive all the necessary support that will enable them to go far in the race.
African candidates at the WTO are neutral and this means they can repair the damaging global trade relationship we are witnessing at the moment. Some of the candidates have had experience in fixing damaged economies and that is what they will be inheriting in the Covid-19 and post-Covid19 era.
We must not also overlook the qualities of the other candidates and who is backing them. We must put that into consideration and ensure that we do everything possible to play in the best ways and if it ever comes to putting all our eggs in one basket, we will have to do that to ensure our votes are not divided when others strategically have theirs intact.
THE WOMAN FACTOR
Empowering women is one great way to empower the world, because no one connects to everyone in the world more than women.
The woman and African factor is huge for the continent at a point where women empowerment and gender equality is among the most discussed issues when we gather.
The world can only be what it is supposed to be when we all join hands to complete the circle of life, innovation, leadership, trade and development. It is so sad to say that the poor participation/exclusion of women in these circles of life has prevented the world from making a complete circle. Without women participation we will have arcs scattered here and there. Women make us complete and their contribution to the development of the world could be the missing link and this has always been there before us.
I feel that should one of our candidates win, they will be inspiring more than a million others to aspire to be who they want to be. The history they will be making will also be there to inspire millions of others globally to dream and achieve great things that will make the world a better place for us all.
Dr.NgoziOkonjo-Iweala and Amina Chawahir Mohamed Jibril can win and back here in Nigeria, they have our blessings.
We want to see one of them win; we want to see trade flourish in Africa and hopefully through one of them Globe Chambers of Commerce and Industry will organize a joint trade, economic and investment programme that will further encourage investments in Africa and also show Africans how they can explore in other parts of the world.
Train a woman and you train a nation.....
We are optimistic.
Thank you.
Hon. NwabuezeBuchi George
President, Globe Chambers of Commerce and Industry
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