The federal government has said that Nigeria – Cote D’s Ivoire Business collaboration has become imperative for the growth of both economies to enhance productivity within the ECOWAS region and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said  this  in Abuja recently  during a first-round table meeting  between Nigeria  and Cote D”Ivoire, even as he urged  the Organised Private sector and all relevant stakeholders in West Africa to explore all areas of collaboration to maximize productivity.

The Minister, who was represented by the Director, Economic Trade and Investment Department (ETID), Bolaji Akinremi, noted that it was critical to harmonize all ECOWAS rules to boost production in the subregion.

At the round table and expo, organised by the federal government in collaboration with the Organised Private Sector (OPS), Akinremi noted that the sub region must also add value to their agro -commodities.

He said “We need to talk to ourselves; we also need to have synergy among ourselves. If we are going to have productivity, then we must harmonize all regulations. ECOWAS has been working on ETLs but it’s really not working. We must make it to work.

“The Africa Continental Free Trade is here. Yet our industries are not keyed into it. We need to get the Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN) to be in tandem with NACCIMA.”

He stressed that the area of collaboration should include value addition notably in cashew and cocoa production, given the two countries produce nearly identical products.

H said further that Nigeria’s Ministry of trade and Ministry of Foreign Affairs need to work together in the area investment.

“Economic diplomacy belonged to the foreign ministry, trade belongs to the ministry of industry   but all of them have to work together to sure that productivity,” he added.

He expressed optimism about a single visa within the region stressing that it will facilitate trade and investment.

Counsellor of Trade Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Cote D’Ivoire in Nigeria, Abre Martin, said his country was delighted to collaborate with various ministries in Nigeria to promote growth and development.