President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, in London, enjoined leaders of the Commonwealth to avoid trade wars and work collectively to preserve the global trading order.

Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja, said Buhari made the call when he delivered his keynote address at the Commonwealth Business Forum at Guildhall, London.

The Commonwealth Business Forum with the subject: “Making Business Easier between Commonwealth Countries” is part of events at this year’s Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting, CHOGM- 25.

President Buhari said,

“If we are to make business easier between our countries and going beyond the Commonwealth, we must avoid trade wars and work collectively to preserve the global trading order, support regional initiatives as well as support domestic structural reforms that focus on the priorities of individual countries.”

He reiterated his belief in wealth creation and employment opportunities within the Commonwealth.

He said,

“If there is a collective Commonwealth Commitment to the Ease of Doing Business, we shall spur growth, multiply wealth and expand employment opportunities.

“These objectives will be accelerated by trade and investment facilitation.’’ 

The President identified Trade and Investment Facilitation, to generate resources for sustainable development, and Ease of Doing Business as factors capable of making business among Commonwealth countries easier.

He also identified Regional Integration that expands markets with safeguards against injurious trade practices from third parties and more Inclusive Growth with the empowerment of women and the youth as other factors that would promote business among the countries.

According to him, Nigeria has already started championing this course with events such as the “High-Level Trade and Investment Facilitation Forum for Development” convened by Nigeria in November 2017 in Abuja in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS):

He said: “We believe that the Commonwealth should lend its support to these types of activities, as a sound model, for Making Business Easier Amongst Commonwealth Countries.

“To underscore Nigeria’s commitment to spreading prosperity throughout the Commonwealth, in the past 6 months, Nigeria Co-Chaired with the United Kingdom, the UK All-Parliamentary Group for Trade out of Poverty(APPG-TOP). The Report of this Commonwealth Inquiry Report was launched on 3rd April, 2018.

“Nigeria affirms its commitment to the principal message from this Commonwealth Inquiry Group that Nigeria co-chaired with the UK.

“The surest, most sustainable way to lift millions of people out of poverty across the Commonwealth is through boosting trade and investment. We believe that, we, as Leaders in the Commonwealth, should grasp the opportunity and agree a major new focus on trade and investment for inclusive development.’’

President Buhari also shared the experiences of Nigeria regarding on-going deep and extensive ‘ease of doing business’ reforms which are being staged under a 60-day National Action Plan.

According to him, Stage 1 focuses on eight areas that makes it easier to register businesses, obtain construction permits, get credit, pay taxes, have electricity, trade across borders, facilitate entry and exit of people and register property.

He said these reforms were codified in an Executive Order, adding that transparency and efficiency across government was mandated and made enforceable.

He noted that these reforms had resulted in improvements including reduction in cost and time and greater transparency particularly for micro, small and medium sized enterprises.

“Stage 2 is focused on 11 areas, improving on Stage 1. This stage also covers new areas, including contract enforcement, simplifying the procurement process and trading within Nigeria. Action on this and subsequent stages will revolve, inter alia, around reputational issues,’’ he said.

The President said these efforts had been acknowledged as evidenced in the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business’ Report published in November last year, which moved Nigeria up 24 places and recognized the country as one of the top 10 most improved economies in the world. He however said more work needed to be done as we enter the next stage.

President Buhari noted that, “In developing countries, labour and industry are concerned about distortions in trade policies that result in subsidised products which have contributed to exports dumped in developing economies. These have had bad effects in the form of job losses.

“Growth is not yet inclusive and remains elusive. There are downside risks about disruptions to trade and investment. Global and regional markets have been considerably rattled by the risks of trade wars. Concerns over climate change are unabated and are increasing. There are tasks and duties on all sides.”

President Buhari called on the members of the Commonwealth Business Forum and prospective investors to participate in the 2018 “UK/Nigeria Trade and Investment Forum” at the London Stock Exchange.

See photos below: