Federal Government agencies will work with the private sector to support research with a view to developing high quality indigenous products and technologies.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, made this known to members of the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) on Tuesday.
According to a statement by his Media Adviser, Akpandem James, Udoma in a keynote address at the Annual General Meeting and 60th Anniversary of NECA in Lagos, which focused on the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), said government was committed to supporting Made-in-Nigeria goods and services; and is working vigorously on policies that would enable the achievement of the goals set out in the ERGP.
While indicating that the plan is intended, not just to get the economy out of recession, but to put Nigeria on a strong, diversified, inclusive, and sustained growth path, the minister pointed out that its success would depend on the responsiveness of the private sector to the initiatives being rolled out by government under the plan.
The Acting President, he said, had set the ball rolling by issuing a number of Executive Orders in aid of ease of doing business in the country, one of which is in support for local content in public procurement by MDAs.
This is to support local production to increase employment opportunities, particularly for the youths.
In this direction, the minister said government believed strongly in working together with all sectors of the economy, as it strongly believed that the ERGP needed the active participation of all for it to achieve its ambitious goals.
Acknowledging the role of NECA in this regard, he said: “You represent many of the leading industrialists and manufacturers in Nigeria. It is your success that will encourage new investors to come into Nigeria. Your success is therefore our success. You can therefore count on a listening ear from government as we work together to transform this economy to become the engine of production of our region and indeed, our continent.”
He said government was very appreciative of the platform NECA had been providing for consultation with the private sector when developing policies on the economy, as well as policies on labour issues.
“We also acknowledge, and are appreciative, of the willingness of members of your association to serve on committees that government has set up, from time to time, to review and develop government policies”, he added.
