Stakeholders of the nation’s particular financial zones (SEZs) have urged stronger synergies between all of the Free Commerce Zones (FTZs) to boost their operations and foster sustainable financial progress.
Making this recognized on the third yearly assembly of the Nigeria SEZ group, with the theme, ‘Fostering Strategic Synergies for Enhanced Particular Financial Zone Operations and Sustainable Financial Development in Nigeria’, the completely different zones famous that because the nation continues its journey in direction of financial diversification and industrialisation, the scheme performs an important and demanding function in attracting international direct funding (FDI), boosting manufacturing and exports in addition to creating jobs.
Reflecting on final yr’s achievements and challenges whereas charting a daring course for the yr and way forward for SEZs, the chairperson of Nigeria Financial Zones Affiliation (NEZA), Nabil Saleh, stated the main target is on how collaborative methods can strengthen SEZ operations, optimise investor confidence and drive sustainable improvement, guaranteeing SEZs stay a pivotal pressure in Nigeria’s financial transformation.
He listed 4 vital areas of focus together with customs collaboration, boosting exports, tax reform and its impact on SEZs and modern banking options shall be highlighted.
“Final yr, we had been additionally confronted with regulatory developments just like the proposed tax reform invoice that posed dire uncertainties that would undermine SEZ competitiveness by eradicating vital incentives.
“We hope to strengthen SEZs’ function in nationwide financial progress by highlighting their contributions to FDI attraction, industrial output and export capability; advance Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda by positioning SEZs as hubs for value-added manufacturing, job creation, exports and fashionable infrastructure improvement and foster strategic collaborations by encouraging dialogue amongst stakeholders to create partnerships aligned with world finest practices. We’d additionally handle regulatory challenges by tackling points such because the proposed tax reform invoice, customs challenges and banking limitations,” he stated.
Constructing on final yr’s success, he stated, the organisers intend to increase the attain of the SEZs, deepen infrastructure improvement, improve ease of doing enterprise, increase export capacities, foster stronger investor relations and spend money on capability improvement.
