NEWLY – APPOINTED chairman of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Mines of D-8 countries with headquarters in Terhan, Iran, Nigerian-born Prince David Iweta,  says his mission is to ensure quick development in the country through organized private  sector (OPS) initiatives with member countries.

Speaking to Sunday Vanguard, Iweta said, “I am determined to use the two-year tenure of Nigeria to work very closely with the chairman of D-8 Ministers and the chairman of the D-8 Central Bank Governors to ensure rapid economic developments in Nigeria through private sector initiatives by partnering with member countries of the D-8 Chambers of Commerce for South-South economic co-operation primarily in the areas of Joint Ventures”. 

He went on: “We will pick on each of the seven countries to bring in their experience to partner with Nigeria entrepreneurs in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, mining, maritime, tourism, amongst others. We shall de-emphasize import of finished goods and encourage export except agricultural inputs that are not available in Nigeria and must only be imported from the D-8 member countries”.

“We shall also  take advantage of rice expertise of Pakistan, rubber and palm from Malaysia, fish farming from Iran, tourism from Egypt in  this order by leveraging on the non- interest charges on loan from these Islamic member countries to grow our economy through private sector initiatives”.

“There is the Joint Venture Fund that is to be set up to encourage business growth amongst countries by D-8 Governments, but,  we at the Chamber of Commerce will not await such fund before going into action”.

Iweta called on Nigerian entrepreneurs to visit the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Secretariat in Lagos to obtain information on how to take advantage of this golden opportunity, pointing out, however, that, “such service will be only be available to members of the  OPS from the various City Chambers of Commerce, MAN, NECA, NASME, etc.

President  Goodluck Jonathan had been  elected as chairman of the Heads of State of the D-8 countries at the just concluded
D-8 Summit in Abuja . Minister of Foreign Affairs,  Odein  Ajumogobia, also emerged as the chairman of Ministers of D-8
Countries while Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr. Sanusi Lamido,  was appointed chairman of the Central Bank
Governors of the D-8 Countries and Iweta also  secured the position of chairman of the D-8 Business Forum of the D-8
Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Mines.