Abuja – President  Goodluck Jonathan on Friday called for the transformation of  the arts and crafts industry to  boost the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

Jonathan, represented by the Minister of  State for  FCT, retired Navy Capt. Omoniyi Olubolade,  said this  in Abuja at the 4th African Arts and crafts Expo (AFAC) which had as theme: “Crafts Industry for Economic Transformation.”

“There is no doubt the arts and crafts   represent a veritable promising investment opportunity yet to be meaningful exploited.

“I am, therefore,  glad that the expo has been initiated as an effective platform that will create  the much required consciousness to enable us take a structured look at this vibrant sector,’’  Jonathan said.

He challenged practitioners to strive toward acquiring the necessary skills to enhance the  production of goods to compete favourably in the global market.

Jonathan assured that government would support the arts expo to attain the level of  becoming  the biggest market platform that would promote indigenous skills and creativity.

The Minister of  Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, said the expo was a platform for  economic and socio-cultural integration.

“The expo will promote import and export of African arts and crafts worldwide, sensitise  investors as well as attract public/private partnership to the industry,’’ Mohammed said.

In his goodwill  message, ECOWAS President,  Amb. James Gbeho,  who was represented  by Mrs Ruby David,  said the expo could address the problems of mono economies, massive  unemployment and poverty.

He said Nigeria’s cultural industry  should be encouraged to grow to its full potentials.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of  the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC),  Mr Mwajim Maidugu, said investors should identify designs and products that could be  developed for mass production for domestic and international markets.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 11  countries attended the expo.

They are Senegal, South Korea, Gambia, Togo, Cameroun, Benin Republic, Ghana,  Pakistan, Niger, Guinea and Mali.(NAN)