Dr. Joseph I. Odumodu, MFR Director General/Chief Executive Standards Organisation of Nigeria FREE TRADE ZONE CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 2012 LAGOON RESTAURANT OZUMBA MBADIWE STREET, VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS 5TH – 7TH APRIL, 2012 DESIGNATED AREAS FOR PRODUCTS LANDING, HANDLING, MANUFACTURING, RECONFIGURATION AND OR RE-EXPORT WITHOUT INTERVENTION OF CUSTOMS AUTHORITY TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE TRADE BARRIERS TO ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO FACILITATE ECONOMIC GROWTH COMPLETE TAX HOLIDAY FOR ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAXES, RATES, CUSTOMS DUTIES AND LEVIES ONE-STOP APPROVALS FOR ALL PERMITS, OPERATING LICENSES AND INCORPORATION PAPERS DUTY-FREE, TAX-FREE IMPORT OF RAW MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS FOR GOODS DESTINED FOR RE-EXPORT DUTY-FREE INTRODUCTION OF CAPITAL GOODS, CONSUMER GOODS, MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT, AND FURNITURE PERMISSION TO SELL 100% OF IMPORTED MANUFACTURED, OR ASSEMBLED GOODS INTO THE DOMESTIC NIGERIAN MARKET WHEN SELLING INTO THE DOMESTIC MARKET, THE AMOUNT OF IMPORT DUTY ON GOODS MANUFACTURED IN THE FREE ZONE IS CALCULATED ONLY ON THE BASIS OF THE VALUE OF THE RAW MATERIALS OR COMPONENTS USED IN ASSEMBLY NOT ON THE FINISHED PRODUCTS 100% FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF INVESTMENTS 100% REPATRIATION OF CAPITAL, PROFITS AND DIVIDENDS WAIVER OF ALL IMPORT AND EXPORT LICENSES WAIVER ON ALL EXPATRIATE QUOTAS FOR COMPANIES OPERATING IN THE ZONES PROHIBITION OF STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS RENT-FREE LAND DURING THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF CONSTRUCTION WHAT STANDARDS DO; MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT, MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MORE EFFICIENT, SAFER AND CLEANER FACILITATE TRADE BETWEEN COUNTRIES AND MAKE IT FAIRER PROVIDE GOVERNMENTS WITH A TECHNICAL BASE FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT SHARE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICE DISSEMINATE INNOVATION SAFEGUARD CONSUMERS AND USERS INTERESTS IN THE PURCHASE AND USES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MAKE LIFE SIMPLER BY PROVIDING SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS SOME SOURCES OF SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS IMPORTATION LOCAL FORMAL PRODUCTION ADULTERATION/COUNTERFEITING LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS ON THE QUALITY OF SOME PRODUCTS FROM FREE TRADE ZONES CONCERN ON ISSUES OF CONTERFEITING/ADULTERATION THE LAUNCHING OF THE “ZERO TOLERANCE TO SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS” STRATEGY & MOBILIZATION OF STAKEHOLDERS SUPPORT ON-GOING ESTABLISHMENT OF HELP DESKS IN MAJOR MARKETS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN COLLABORATION WITH CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL & MARKET ASSOCIATIONS COLLABORATIVE ARRANGEMENT WITH NEPZA TO INSPECT PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE FREE TRADE ZONES FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE CONTINUOUS STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT WITH A VIEW TO; FULLY IMPLEMENT OUR MANDATE PROMOTE GENUINE BUSINESSES & FIGHT THE SCOURGE OF SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS CIRCULATION PROVIDE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR LOCALLY MANUFACTURED & IMPORTED PRODUCTS PROTECT NIGERIAN CONSUMERS & PROMOTE VALUE -FOR-MONEY IN PRODUCTS PURCHASE PROMOTE RE-INDUSTRIALIZATION OF NIGERIA & CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE REQUEST MAXIMUM COOPERATION FROM OPERATORS IN THE FREE TRADE ZONES WE ENCOURAGE CONSUMERS IN NIGERIA TO DEMAND QUALITY AT ALL TIMES & TO ENDEAVOUR TO COMPLAIN WHEN THEY DO NOT GET IT WE THANK THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS PROGRAM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS …Improving life through Standards