Director-General of the World Trade Organisation Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has concluded her four-day official visit to Nigeria.
During her visit, she met with President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, senior members of the government including the minister and minister of state on trade, industry and investment; minister of foreign affairs; minister of finance; minister of women affairs; governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; business leaders and the presidential task force on COVID-19.
In her meeting with Nigerian captains of industry on March 16, the director-general praised Nigeria’s efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and urged the country to build on this success. She emphasised the importance of increasing vaccine production, ensuring equitable distribution and making sure that medical goods such as vaccines can cross borders seamlessly.
In a meeting with women entrepreneurs and representatives of MSMEs on March 17, Okonjo-Iweala stressed the role of women and small businesses in the economy and the need for additional support for their efforts to thrive commercially.
“Lowering the obstacles for businesses of all sizes, and especially women-owned businesses, to participate in international trade would help build back a better economy for everyone after this crisis,” she said.
