Wema Bank held its first physical Importer-Exporter Forum in Lagos on Wednesday.
Themed “Building A Symbiotic Trade Ecosystem For Effective Trade Decisions”, the forum convened importers, exporters, aspiring international traders and relevant regulatory bodies to address issues impeding international trade, proffering viable solutions tailored to facilitate seamless international trade operations and enable a mutually beneficial import-export synchronisation.
The event also witnessed the launch of the Wema Export Trade Academy, a virtual educational facility for nurturing international trade enthusiasts to success. The academy, pioneered by Wema Bank, is strategically designed to nurture export enthusiasts from cradle, equipping them with exclusive expert resources to help them identify the right products, locate willing buyers, navigate regulatory provisions, receive payments and access funding facilities, to build a fruitful and sustainable export trade business.
Wema Bank’s managing director, Moruf Oseni, highlighted the bank’s dedication to provide cutting-edge solutions for businesses, adding that the end goal was to create a new generation of trade champions who would propel Nigeria to the forefront of the global trade marketplace. “We have a wealth of natural resources and a burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit, what we need are the right tools, knowledge and partnerships to translate this potential into tangible trade success stories. This forum, coupled with our Wema Africa Trade Academy is our own way of providing tools for entrepreneurs in the International Trade sector,” he said.
The Central Bank of Nigeria director, trade and exchange department, Dr. Mahmud Hassan, shared some insight on the CBN’s role in international trade and the navigation of monetary challenges. “Managing trade in Nigeria has both physical and monetary aspects as effective trade in Nigeria depends on synergy between the physical and monetary authorities. The CBN draws its power on trade oversight from the core mandates of the CBN such as price stability and the maintenance of the country’s external reserve in order to safeguard the international value of the Naira. I am honoured to be here and we are hopeful that these trade discussions will generate policy options that can improve foreign exchange earnings”, he said.
