WTO’s Okonjo-Iweala Visits Nigeria, Harps On Fisheries Subsidies, Vaccine Production

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has called for more support from local manufacturers to guard against imports of vaccines and other pharmaceutical products.

This was made known during her second visit to the Ministry of Industries, Trade and Investment in Abuja on Monday.

The WTO DG who discussed the importance of trade relationships in Nigeria and Africa with a focus on fisheries subsidies and local vaccine production in the country, stressed that fisheries subsidy is key to Nigeria.

She asserted that to ensure improved output, she said a revised draft agreement for new global rules aims to curb harmful fishing subsidies and curtail post-harvest losses.

The issues were part of a broad discussion on how to improve trade and export while leveraging the opportunities the African continental free trade agreement offers.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala said the WTO is also looking at soaring inflation rates beyond improving trade ties in Nigeria and Africa.

He noted that the WTO is taking measures to ensure that all restrictions on food flow to member countries are addressed.