Business

Nigeria-Taiwan Commerce Falls to $500m in 2023

Published

4 months ago

May 17, 2024

The Chief of Mission to the Taiwanese Government in Nigeria, Andy Liu, has said that the trade relations between Nigeria and Taiwan drop to $500 million in 2023 from $1 billion in 2021.

Liu made these comments during the 2024 Taiwan Business Forum held in Lagos.

According to Liu, Nigeria’s status as a net exporter of agricultural products, particularly sesame seeds has historically fueled the trade between the two nations.

However, the peak in trade experienced in 2021, buoyed by increased demand for Nigerian agricultural goods, notably declined in subsequent years.

“The highest peak of trade reached about $1 billion in 2021. It was the peak of COVID-19, with Nigerians enjoying surplus trading with Taiwan. We imported more of Nigeria’s agricultural products, such as sesame, aside from oil-related products. In 2021, we had a huge demand for agricultural products for our food processing industries,” Liu stated.

However, the trade dynamics shifted in the following years, leading to a significant decline in trade volume.

Liu attributed this decline to a normalization of demand following the peak in 2021, resulting in a reduction in trade value to $500 million by 2023.

Despite this decrease, Liu remained optimistic about the future trajectory of trade relations between the two countries.

“We might see some level of increase in the near future,” Liu enthused, highlighting Nigeria’s continued significance as a destination for Taiwanese businesses.

In addition to discussing trade volume, Liu addressed the issue of counterfeiting and piracy, which has affected Taiwanese products globally.

He said the Taiwanese government is working to combat this challenge by showcasing the quality of Taiwanese products and providing after-sale services.

“We have been having our delegates visit the world to prove that we are victims of piracy, but we are going to use the platform to show that we have good and quality products to let the world know who the true providers of these quality goods are,” Liu affirmed.

The President of Globe Industries Corporation, David Hwang, echoed concerns about counterfeit products, attributing the decline in profit margins to the influx of counterfeit goods from China.

Hwang emphasized the need for partnerships to address this issue and foster mutually beneficial trade relations.

Responding to the developments, the Director-General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Sola Obadimu, commended the Taiwanese focus on African businesses and the quality of their products.

He pledged NACCIMA’s continued collaboration with Taiwanese companies to drive business growth for both nations.

As Nigeria and Taiwan navigate the challenges posed by fluctuating trade volumes and counterfeit goods, stakeholders remain committed to fostering resilient and mutually beneficial economic ties.

The 2024 Taiwan Business Forum served as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, laying the groundwork for future cooperation between the two nations.

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Samed Olukoya

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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Business

Presidency Proposes NIMASA AND NPA Charge in Naira to Strengthen Currency

Published

14 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Yetunde Olugbenga

On Wednesday, the federal government of Nigeria proposed the implementation of the Naira for transactions to reduce pressure on the foreign exchange (FX) market and to strengthen the Naira against foreign currencies.

This proposal was declared by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who spoke on Wednesday during a press briefing at the state house in Abuja.

It could be recalled that Naira has significantly depreciated from N471.67 per USD to N1667.42 per USD in the official market as of Wednesday. Therefore, as part of the government’s effort to reduce the demand for dollars, the federal government reiterated that on October 1, the sale of crude oil in Naira to the Dangote refinery, and other local refineries would commence.

According to Onanuga, the federal government will implement policies that would force the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) to transact in Naira.

“The second one has to do with the operating laws guiding NIMASA and Nigerian Port Authority (NPA). The amendment under that in the economic stabilisation bills is that all their fees, charges, levies, fines, and other monies accruing to them and payable to those agencies will now be paid in Naira at the applicable exchange rate.” He said.

He added that this is part of the economic stabilisation bills (ESBs) to be presented by President Bola Tinubu to the national assembly.

“Hitherto, those agencies were charging in dollars but now collect it in Naira. This government wants to put a lot of emphasis on our national currency instead of everything being dollarised in our economy.”

Merger and Acquisition

Flour Mills Receives Regulatory Approval for Minority Shareholder Buyout

Published

2 days ago

September 26, 2024

Bassey Marshall

The Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN) has perfected plans to buy out minority shareholders to focus on strengthening its position as the future of African food businesses.

Boye Olusanya, the group managing director, stated that the company has received approval from the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to proceed with the purchase.

FMN disclosed on Tuesday that the buyout would be executed through a scheme of arrangement, supervised by relevant regulatory bodies.

According to Olusanya, this move aligns with FMN’s goal to become the leading Pan-African food business, improving its ability to innovate and grow, while focusing on long-term value for stakeholders.

He said the buyout would enhance FMN’s operational efficiency and decision-making agility.

The company plans to apply to the Federal High Court for approval to convene a shareholders’ meeting, where the resolution to buy out minority shareholders will be discussed.

Olusanya said the resolution would pass if at least 75% of shareholders, either in person or by proxy, approve it at the Court-Ordered Meeting (COM). FMN’s board has already recommended the offer to shareholders, citing the buyout’s potential advantages for innovation and sustainable growth.

Business

Weeks After Losing $1.1 Billion, BUA Announces Expansion

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2024

Bassey Marshall

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BUA Foods Plc, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has revealed plans to expand the pasta production unit of the company.

Investors King gathered that the planned expansion comes weeks after Nigeria’s second richest man experienced a $1.1 billion decline in his net worth in 90 days.

The depreciation in Rabiu’s wealth was largely attributed to the depreciation of the naira and fluctuations in equity values.

However, after signing an agreement with FAVA (Italy), one of the world’s leading pasta equipment manufacturing companies, BUA Foods renewed its planned expansion.

Rabiu announced the expansion in a statement signed on Wednesday by BUA Foods Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Adewunmi Desalu.

According to him, the planned expansion is aimed at assisting the government in battling the ongoing food shortage in the country.

He noted that the expansion will give room for growth, adding that the company will be able to introduce new innovations.

The statement read, “Our manufacturing capacity expansion will continue to enable us to extend the boundaries of what we can produce and deliver, supporting our nation’s development by providing solutions to ongoing food shortages.”

“In addition to producing more pasta, we’ll be able to introduce new innovations to support mixed volume growth, while consistently delivering the unrivalled product quality our customers expect.

“The additional 100,000 tonnes of grain storage capacity will enable us to meet the growing demand for our products while strengthening the backbone of our food processing operations by ensuring a reliable and consistent supply of raw materials.”