The Federal Government says it is discussing with the management of the National Automotive Design and Development Council to re-enact the automotive policy to boost the industry.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, in a news conference on Monday in Abuja said that the ministry was also collaborating with relevant stakeholders on the policy.
Adebayo disclosed that the ministry would hold a stakeholders’ summit on January 28, 2020, to get the views of the industry’s stakeholders and prepare the policy to be passed to the National Assembly.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the summit was part of efforts to rework the National Automotive Industry Development Plan bill popularly known as Auto Policy, which could not scale through during the first tenure of the present administration.
The bill is central to the development of the automotive industry, which is said to be currently under-performing.
The policy when it becomes functional will enhance local investment in Assembly plant by many automotive brands; stimulate economic activities and growth in the industry.
On the Ease of Doing Business, the minister expressed satisfaction that the World Bank’s ranking for Nigeria had improved tremendously, adding that the Federal Government would not relent but continue to improve.
“We are working with the Nigerian Customs Service to see that importation of goods and processes by which they are brought into the country are faster and more effective.
“We are working strenuously with the Airport authorities to make sure that the arrival processes at the Airports are made much easier and faster.
“This whole idea is to make things easier for people who do business in Nigeria with the view to encourage them to invest more in Nigeria,” he said.
He said that the ministry would continue to encourage production of Nigerian goods through its engagement with summits and meetings organised by business community in Nigeria to boost patronage and investment.
The minister, however, assured the media of its collaboration within the availability of fund to encourage wide reportage and more sensitisation on its progammes and policies for public interest.
Also speaking, Ambassador Mariam Katagum, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, noted that the Federal Government had already constituted a committee working on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.