‘Our Focus is to Build a Sustainable Trading Platform’

Ugo Aliogo

The Managing Director of Leoht Africa Event Limited, Bunmi Aliyu, has stated that Nigeria is set to build a sustainable international sourcing platform for organizations to trade and secure orders from corporate buyers and resellers with the annual Source Textile and apparel and retail sourcing fair West Africa Exhibitions.

Aliyu, who stated this recently in Lagos said that the 2021 RSF had exhibitors of 116 suppliers and manufacturers of textile, apparel, home and gift, 22 companies from India, 16 companies from Turkey, 66 companies from China, and 10 of the best made in Nigeria.

She noted that the textile industry has huge potential that needs more investment.

According to her, this business relationship will strengthen the economy and open easy access to doing business between the two countries.

She said, “We are optimistic that this annual exhibition will continue to strengthen bilateral trade between Nigeria and other countries. Our goal retail sourcing fair west Africa is simple which is to provide a route to market penetration expansion and strategies by Connecting the Nigerian and West African retail markets to international manufacturers and suppliers.

“RSF 2021 offers you even more buying and trade opportunities during festive periods and we have introduced a new flexibility for product buying through prearranged B2B meetings and in person. This programme provides opportunities to meet, make business connections and buy products directly from the biggest manufacturers at reduced prices. The RSF 2021 has brought together manufacturers from India, Turkey, China and UK as well as representatives from other African countries including Ghana, Ethiopia and other countries in Asia and Europe.”

In his remarks, Regional Director, Indian Chamber of Commerce, Debmalya Banerjee explained that as part of a move to facilitate trading relationships between India and Nigeria, the India Chamber of Commerce has signed Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU) with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI) to boost the textile, home and other sectors of the economy in Nigeria.

He noted that the Indian Chamber of Commerce will be meeting with the LCCI to sign an MOU towards strengthening its interest in the Nigeria economy.

According to him, India is looking at investing more with Nigeria especially in the power, energy and infrastructural sector as Nigeria remains the largest economy.

He said: “I see huge business opportunities with the Nigeria economy. We have so far invested close to 19billion dollars in the Nigerian economy and we are hoping to do more. We have led a delegation of 22 companies from India for source textile and apparel which is part of the Retail Sourcing West Africa for the exhibition. We are signing an MoU with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce Industry. This will help the India and Nigeria Industry to come together, exchange knowledge, and do business together.”