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SON HOSTS D-8 DELEGATION TO STRENGTHEN TRADE FACILITATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING

The Secretariat of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation(D-8) led by the Secretary -General, Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, as part of efforts to deepen collaboration on trade facilitation and capacity building paid a courtesy visit to the Director General/Chief Executive of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, at the SON Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

Addressing the delegation, the Director-General/Chief Executive, SON provided a detailed overview of SON’s mandate. He emphasized the organization’s pivotal role in promoting standardization, ensuring quality assurance, and protecting consumers while creating a conducive environment for domestic and international trade.

Dr. Okeke highlighted areas of potential strategic partnership between SON and the D-8, discussing avenues to enhance bilaterial relationships in standardization activities in important economic sectors in Nigeria.

In his response, the Secretary General of the D-8, expressed the delegation’s eagerness to leverage SON’s expertise in supporting the implementation of the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement. He explained that the agreement seeks to enhance intra-D-8 trade by reducing or eliminating tariffs, harmonizing standards, and fostering compliance among member states.

Additionally, Ambassador Imam stated that the D-8’s Priority Areas are Trade and Investment, Agriculture and Food Security, Energy, Transportation, Tourism, Education and Human Resource Development, Health, Industry and SMEs, as well as ICT and Youth Development aimed at fostering socio-economic growth and collective prosperity amongst members.

The D-8 is an inter-governmental organization established in 1997 by Heads of State and Government of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Türkiye, to primarily promote economic and trade cooperation, amongst member states.

The D-8 delegation’s visit to SON is part of a series of visits by the D-8 Secretary- General to engage with top officials of the Federal and State Government as well as the Private Sector to further strengthen the on-going collaboration in the key priority areas of the D-8 Organization.

The meeting rounded up with the DG/CE SON presenting two books i. Nigerian National Standardization Strategy (2024-2027) and ii. Principles and Procedures for the Development of Nigerian National Standards developed by the Standards Development Department to Ambassador Isiaka Imam which marks a significant milestone in the partnership between SON and the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, with both parties committed to strengthening economic ties and driving sustainable growth for the shared prosperity of member states.

 

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