Ismaila Aderemi Bello, a chartered accountant, is the Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Managing Director, Critall Hope Nigeria Limited. In this interview with ROSELINE OKERE, he spoke on the need for government to pay greater attention to the issue of security and infrastructure to attract Foreign Direct Investments and the plans by the chamber to use the trade fair to increase the competitiveness of Nigerian products . Excerpts.THE LCCI has been involved in the promotion of trade and investment in Nigeria through the yearly Lagos International Trade Fair. What has the chamber put in place to ensure a successful trade fair this year'It is a 10-day event, which we have been planning in the last one- year. This shows the importance we attached to the Lagos International Trade Fair. We started the preparation about 12 months ago. This has been our usual practice that as soon as we end one trade fair, we would start the preparation for the next one. The preparation for 2011 fair started since December last year. Part of our success story has to do with proper planning. We have the trade promotion board with 70 members, which runs across the different trade groups within the chamber. We have the publicity, tourism and hospitality and logistics committees. There is the technical committee, marketing, security, and environmental committees also. All these committees have been working for the past 12 months. All I can say is that all is now set for us to kick-start the 25th edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair.This time around, we are working with the anti bomb disposal unit of the Nigerian Police Force so as to increase the security arrangement we have on ground. We have CCTVs mounted in strategic locations at the complex to monitor activities at the fair ground for 24 hours. We have never recorded any security breach in the past. I want to assure you that if anything should happen, we have what to fall back on concerning security issues. A unique feature of this year's fair is the expansion of our indoor exhibition space. So far so good, we are fully ready for the take off of the event.We are collaborating with the concessionaire of the complex in renovating the complex and the nine exhibition halls to be used.The fair will start on November 4 and close on November 15 while the 25th unbroken year of organising the fair will be celebrated.The volume of the transactions signified the importance of the fair to the nation's economic development.We are going to be having seminars and conferences in conjunction with the 15 sector grouping in the LCCI and provide meeting rooms and conference halls for meeting. There is going to be collaboration with various private sector organizations in various key amenities to improve exhibitors' and visitors' services. We have also ensured there is un-interrupted power supply through dedicated industrial power generating sets to compliment public power supply.With bomb blast heightening concerns in the country, how do you plan to address this security challenge'We are working with the anti bomb disposal unit. We are aware of Nigeria's security challenges. We are very conscious of this. We do not pray for it to happen. We do not expect it to happen. We have already taken over the site. Entrance to the fair ground is strictly monitored and screened. You cannot just go to the trade fair complex if you do not have business there. You must be properly accredited. What we are planning to do is to make sure that members of the trade promotion board manage the place along with the security agencies to make sure that unwanted individuals are not allowed access to the fair. There are provisions of multiple security points within the fair arena to ensure round-the-clock security checks and there is security patrol around the fair ground. We have engaged the services of both private and public security agencies like the Nigerian Police to ensure adequate security to life and properties. There is 24-hour monitory of activities at the fair arena with state of the art CCTV recorders.The trade fair is regarded as the biggest and the best in West Africa. How has the chamber been able to transform it to such an international level'We have always paid attention to the planning of the fair. We have chief executives of different organisation who usually meet every month and when the fair is few weeks away, we start meeting every week. Our members are very dedicated to the course. We have provided multiple information and customer services centres, shell scheme stands for all indoor exhibitions and improved illumination and audio systems in all exhibition halls.Over the years, we have been able to build economic and commercial bridges between local and international investors through the Lagos International Trade Fair. We have broadened the horizon and scope of investment opportunities for our exhibitors and visitors alike. These achievements, we intend to sustain, with an even better delivery of value to our clients.How many other countries are we expecting at the fair, including the state and local governments in Nigeria'Some states would prefer to show interest few days to the event. As I am talking to you right now, over 15 countries around the world have shown interest.We already have firm assurances of participation from exhibitors in India, Ghana, Indonesia, South Africa, China, Pakistan, Ivory Coast and Republic of Benin, amongst others and they have already registered for the fair.We have also made this year's fair a sector based. This will enhance ease of identification of sector/exhibitors and improve access to exhibitors. Compared to last year, we have had over 100 per cent increase in space booking.What informed the choice of the theme for this year's fair'The choice of the theme of the fair: 'Increasing Competitiveness of Nigerian Products in the Global Market' is an indication of the chambers readiness to motivate public-private sector collaboration for the provision of an enabling business environment that will promote and encourage the industrial sector.LCCI has come out with new framework, to use the annual Lagos Trade Fair to showcase, encourage and support manufacturers. The fair intends to address the imperative of deliberate and concerted efforts by key players in our nation's economy to tackle the inhibiting factors against our indigenous industrialists, and that will be mutually beneficial to both sectors. This would enable Nigeria to attain its quest of becoming one of the top 20 industrialized economies in the world by year 2020.The world is becoming smaller by the day, with countries all over the world agreeing on globally accepted standards in all aspects of businesses, whether production or service delivery, it will be unwise for any economy to remain a recluse in this global crusade for quality at the right price.We must therefore provide a workable synergy between the public sector, in the provision of basic infrastructures and the private sector, in ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in its operations.Has the security situation in the country prevented some countries from coming to exhibit their products at the fair'There is no doubt about that. You cannot rule out the fact that security situation is affecting foreign direct investment. You will recollect the very recently the United Nations (UN) put flying restriction of their members traveling to Nigeria. I must confess that Nigeria's image is not very good outside. In a situation whereby you are having business discussion with foreign partners, they are telling you that they have been warned by their embassies to stay off Nigeria. Definitely, it is going to have negative effect on foreign investment in Nigeria. The security situation is a challenge.In what ways has the trade fair been able to contribute to the nation's economic growth'The trade fair has over the years aimed at accelerating the economic growth and boosting investors' confidence on the Nigerian economy.When such question is asked, what I always say is 'look at the contribution of trade fairs to the level of development in Lagos State. If Lagos is contributing, let say about 60 to 70 per cent to the growth of the economy, it means that the chamber is contributing to Nigeria's economic growth'. So the Lagos international trade fair, besides providing employment to the teeming unemployed, we also create opportunities for visitors, and investors to come to Lagos State. We have been, through the fair, able to add value to the economy.What do you think government can do to change the unsavoury perception of some foreigners about the nation'The problems we are having in Nigeria with regards to image would have to be resolved by Nigerians. This is because it is what we project to the world that they will believe. We have to effect the change from within. It is what the press observes that they will report. They will not fabricate or manufacture stories. What I will say is that we should try to manage our security situation internally.Exhibitors at the previous fairs have always complained of hawkers causing serious human and vehicular traffic. What has the chamber put in place to ensure free flow of traffic this year at the fair arena'This year, before you are allowed into the fair, you must have a business there. Your business must be very clear. Usually, the ticket franchisee is concerned about collecting the money and allowing all sorts of people to enter the fair arena. But, with what we have put in place, everyone coming into the fair would be scrutinised. It is not the hawkers that normally create the bottlenecks concerning traffic. As we remain committed to ensuring the Lagos International Trade Fair remains the biggest and the best in Nigeria and possibly in Africa, over 75 per cent of the 2011 trade would be indoor for investors who are desirous of improving their market share to have the opportunities to demonstrate and showcase the unique selling points of their products. This new strategy would prevent hawkers from disrupting business activities.What role do you think the Federal Government can play to boost trade and exhibition in Nigeria'Government has many things to do to ensure that trade and exhibition in Nigeria is boosted to attract more foreign investors into the country. We were at a trade fair in the United States and we saw that the Chinese were more than 50 per cent of the exhibitors and we tried to find out how they were able to attend the fair with so many people. They claimed that their government gave them assistance as a strategy to capture the world. There is no way we can achieve much without government's intervention. They may decide to assist indirectly. They may not need to give us money. They may decide to assist by ensuring that the roads that link people to the fair are in good condition. People are already nursing the fair on the state of the road during the fair ground. Hopefully, by the time the road being constructed by the Lagos State government is put in place, things will be better. The government cannot afford to leave trade and exhibition strictly to the private sector.The Federal Government needs to supplement its entrepreneurship development programmes through Public Pivate Partnership (PPP) as part of its plans to achieving Nigeria's quest of becoming one of the top industrialized economies in the world by year 2020.The PPP is critical to ensure the effective implementation and sustainability of the seven points agenda of the Federal Government on economic, social and political transformation programmes, focusing on power and energy, agriculture and food security, wealth creation and employment, mass transportation, land reforms, security, qualitative and functional education and of course the Niger Delta.We believe that the private sector in the nation's economy is ready and able to take up the challenge of being the driver of the economic growth process.We have always believed and had strong conviction that the PPP is critical to ensuring the effective implementation and sustainability of the laudable programmes of government and that it would facilitate the realisation of the vision of the present administration.Recently, Forbes' Best Countries for Business report showed that Nigeria has dropped in the best countries for business ranking. How do we make Nigeria a good destination to foreign investors'To make Nigeria a good destination for business, Nigeria must deal with the issue of security and infrastructure. Security in terms of human life, properties, food, infrastructure and electricity. Until these challenges are ffectively addressed, it will be difficult for the country to be refered to as a good business destination.Why is it impossible for the country to achieve uninterrupted power, when countries like Ghana and South Africa have enjoyed uninterrupted electricity for a long time'I do not believe it is a problem that is insurmountable, if the will is there. We should try to start afresh concerning the power initiative. Until we address the issue of corruption, I don't think we would get anywhere.Nigerian products and services are not being accepted here in Nigeria. How do we raise the profile of our products locally and internationally'The problem we have in this country has to do with our image. I came across an expatriate who said he manufactured a product in Nigeria, which was rejected in Nigeria. He took the same product and branded it 'made in Togo' and was accepted in Nigeria. We have challenges when it comes to image. We have gotten to a point where people are not ready to work, but are ready to be paid. I was made to believe that Nigerian workers are not good and that Togolese boys are better. I actually gave the job to a Togolese boy. The one done by a Nigerian was better. So we need to work on our image. I am not ignorant of our challenges.You are also the Managing Director of Critall Hope Limited. How has the company be able to survive in the midst of the harsh business environment'Indeed, the Nigerian business environment is very harsh, especially to the manufacturing sector. We do not just dabble into so many things. We have our area of specialty. We are into windows and doors. It has been very challenging in the area of infrastructure and financing.Nigeria used to be one of the leading manufacturers of steel products in Africa when the Ajaokuta Steel was producing. How do we revive the Nigerian steel industry'The Federal Government must revive the steel sector if it really wants to achieve vision 202020. We are talking about infrastructure and transportation. We cannot continue to convey our goods through the roads. The Nigeria railways need steel to be revitalised. Are we going to continue to import steel from China' The steel industry is the backbone of any economy. The Federal Government investment in Ajaokuta steel in the 80s was not a mistake.
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