Dr. Joseph I. Odumodu, MFR Director General/Chief Executive Standards Organisation of Nigeria

FREE TRADE ZONE CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 2012 LAGOON RESTAURANT OZUMBA MBADIWE STREET, VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS 5 TH – 7 TH APRIL, 2012

DESIGNATED AREAS FOR PRODUCTS LANDING, HANDLING, MANUFACTURING, RECONFIGURATION AND OR RE-EXPORT WITHOUT INTERVENTION OF CUSTOMS AUTHORITY

 TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE TRADE BARRIERS  TO ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT  TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES  TO FACILITATE ECONOMIC GROWTH

 COMPLETE TAX HOLIDAY FOR ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAXES, RATES, CUSTOMS DUTIES AND LEVIES  ONE-STOP APPROVALS FOR ALL PERMITS, OPERATING LICENSES AND INCORPORATION PAPERS  DUTY-FREE, TAX-FREE IMPORT OF RAW MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS FOR GOODS DESTINED FOR RE-EXPORT  DUTY-FREE INTRODUCTION OF CAPITAL GOODS, CONSUMER GOODS, MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT, AND FURNITURE

 PERMISSION TO SELL 100% OF IMPORTED MANUFACTURED, OR ASSEMBLED GOODS INTO THE DOMESTIC NIGERIAN MARKET  WHEN SELLING INTO THE DOMESTIC MARKET, THE AMOUNT OF IMPORT DUTY ON GOODS MANUFACTURED IN THE FREE ZONE IS CALCULATED ONLY ON THE BASIS OF THE VALUE OF THE RAW MATERIALS OR COMPONENTS USED IN ASSEMBLY NOT ON THE FINISHED PRODUCTS

 100% FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF INVESTMENTS  100% REPATRIATION OF CAPITAL, PROFITS AND DIVIDENDS  WAIVER OF ALL IMPORT AND EXPORT LICENSES  WAIVER ON ALL EXPATRIATE QUOTAS FOR COMPANIES OPERATING IN THE ZONES  PROHIBITION OF STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS  RENT-FREE LAND DURING THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF CONSTRUCTION

 WHAT STANDARDS DO ;  MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT, MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MORE EFFICIENT, SAFER AND CLEANER  FACILITATE TRADE BETWEEN COUNTRIES AND MAKE IT FAIRER  PROVIDE GOVERNMENTS WITH A TECHNICAL BASE FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT

 SHARE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICE  DISSEMINATE INNOVATION  SAFEGUARD CONSUMERS AND USERS INTERESTS IN THE PURCHASE AND USES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES  MAKE LIFE SIMPLER BY PROVIDING SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS

 SOME SOURCES OF SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS  IMPORTATION  LOCAL FORMAL PRODUCTION  ADULTERATION/COUNTERFEITING

 LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS ON THE QUALITY OF SOME PRODUCTS FROM FREE TRADE ZONES  CONCERN ON ISSUES OF CONTERFEITING/ADULTERATION

 THE LAUNCHING OF THE “ZERO TOLERANCE TO SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS” STRATEGY & MOBILIZATION OF STAKEHOLDERS SUPPORT

 ON-GOING ESTABLISHMENT OF HELP DESKS IN MAJOR MARKETS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN COLLABORATION WITH CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL & MARKET ASSOCIATIONS

 COLLABORATIVE ARRANGEMENT WITH NEPZA TO INSPECT PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE FREE TRADE ZONES FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE

 CONTINUOUS STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT WITH A VIEW TO;  FULLY IMPLEMENT OUR MANDATE  PROMOTE GENUINE BUSINESSES & FIGHT THE SCOURGE OF SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS CIRCULATION  PROVIDE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR LOCALLY MANUFACTURED & IMPORTED PRODUCTS

 PROTECT NIGERIAN CONSUMERS & PROMOTE VALUE -FOR-MONEY IN PRODUCTS PURCHASE  PROMOTE RE-INDUSTRIALIZATION OF NIGERIA &  CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

 WE REQUEST MAXIMUM COOPERATION FROM OPERATORS IN THE FREE TRADE ZONES  WE ENCOURAGE CONSUMERS IN NIGERIA TO DEMAND QUALITY AT ALL TIMES & TO ENDEAVOUR TO COMPLAIN WHEN THEY DO NOT GET IT  WE THANK THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS PROGRAM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

 THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS …Improving life through Standards