Lagos – Mr Ryan Sanderson, Exhibition Manager, Informa Global Ltd, an exhibition organiser, said on Friday in Lagos that Nigeria needed more partnerships with other countries to grow its non-oil sector.
Sanderson, who is the organiser of the ongoing Food Nigeria exhibition holding in Lagos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the essence was to form global partnerships.
He said that over 150 exhibitors, mostly foreigners, would be able to linkup up with potential distributors and partners in Nigeria.
Sanderson said such partnerships would in turn develop the food industry, into a fast-growing real sector in the economy.
“The exhibition is purposely to bring together manufacturers, companies in the food business, to meet in Nigeria.
“Why Nigeria, because first, the average Nigerian spends 73 per cent of his earnings on food, while the annual food imports from other countries to Nigeria is about 1 trillion annually.
“Nigeria is a fertile ground for food investments, and there is no better way to do this than to collaborate with other countries, in the aspects of services, equipment, and food products.
“There are over 20 countries here, most of which are Nigeria’s major import trading partners, and this exhibition we believe will bring them to appreciate and see Nigerian products too.
“Partnership with other countries is one of the key requirements to help Nigeria with its diversification agenda,” he said.
Sanderson said that there were 12 Nigerian exhibitors, which included food processing and farming services companies, while there were 20 companies from the U.K.
He told NAN that exhibitors were also from other countries like Turkey, China, and the Asian continent.
Sanderson also stated that the training sessions held at the exhibition were meant to provide guiding information to companies and potential business owners in the country.
The manager said that salient information on food certifications, directory of businesses, training on packaging for exports, and so on, were also vital to the growth of the Nigeria’s manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
NAN observed that most of the exhibitors comprised of potential foreign investors dealing in food, industrial wares, chemicals, accessories and services. (NAN)