The Japanese Government has pledged to assist Nigeria in its fight against substandard and counterfeit products in the country.
Mr Taku Miyazaki, the Trade
Commissioner, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) made this pledge
while speaking with the News Men in Lagos on Thursday.
Miyazaki said consumers and investors
needed to be protected from the negative impact of counterfeiting which
had destroyed the economy, business investments and international trade
relationships.
According to him, his government will
collaborate with relevant government agencies in Nigeria to boost
capacity of personnel through various workshops to detect fake and
substandard products and protect intellectual property.
He said unfair trade practice was one of the greatest concerns of investors in Nigeria.
He said enhancing skills of customs
officials and those of other relevant agencies would promote economic
growth, prosperity and sustainable development.
Miyazaki said the Japanese government
had utilized the training to enhance the economies of the United Arab
Emirate (UAE), India and some other Asian countries.
He said bringing the training to Nigeria
would assist the Federal Government to actualize the objectives its
Economic and Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP), plug revenue leakages and
build a virile economy.
“It will be a win-win situation for both
countries. Trust will be enhanced, trade volume, investments and
productivity will increase,” he said.
Miyazaki said it was imperative to
engage in adequate sensitization of consumers, build strong institutions
and enforcement capacity to effectively tackle counterfeiting.
The Standard Organization of Nigeria
(SON) had disclosed that since 2,000, over one million Nigerians working
in the textile industries had lost their jobs to activities of
counterfeiters.
Industry experts have estimated that N15
billion is lost annually to counterfeiting and substandard products and
this has led to the collapse of many manufacturing firms.
NAN
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