Oyo State Government, on Monday, shared its African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation Strategy blueprint with Botswana, an AfCFTA member-state.
This was done during a meeting with the country’s Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Hon Tiroeaone Mojatale Ntsima, in Gaborone, the capital city.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, Special Adviser on International Trade and AfCFTA to Oyo State Governor, Ms Neo Theodore Tlhaselo, said the meeting sought to cultivate trade relations between Oyo State and Botswana.
As stated in a release by Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser (Media) to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, Tlhaselo, said economic diplomacy is an integral part of the state’s AfCFTA Implementation Strategy.
She noted that it was quite important towards opening the state to businesses and for negotiations between member states on trade facilitation, among others.
Tlhaselo added that the state AfCFTA Implementation Strategy was discussed with the Minister, who commended Governor ‘Seyi Makinde for heading the first sub-national to key into the AfCFTA initiative.
She added that Ntsima acknowledged Nigeria’s huge market as well as its input and influence in the global economy.
According to her, the trade relations between Botswana and Oyo State should accelerate to a point where it would facilitate market access for both entities.
Also speaking, Minister Ntsima noted that, while Botswana has a small population, it is strategically located to be a point of entry and production for Oyo State’s businesses and traders, who seek access to the 16-member South African Development Community (SADC).
He added that Botswana businesses and traders would also be able to tap into Oyo State’s market and make it a point of entry and place of production, from where they can target the Nigerian and ECOWAS markets.
Ms Tlhaselo said the Permanent Secretary of the Botswana Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Joel Ramaphoi, also alluded to the fact that the move by the Oyo State Government to facilitate market access was key to the realisation of tangible results.
The governor’s special adviser on International Trade and AfCFTA added that Oyo, with its ease of doing business ranking, was a state worth collaborating with.
