Over 50 private sector coys to attend Borderless 2014 Conference

By Clem Khena-Ogbena

More than 50 private sector companies, working in collaboration with public institutions, civil societies and the media in West Africa to increase trade, are billed to participate in the Borderless forum, in

Nigeria, a statement from NEXIM Bank, has said. The forum, tagged “Borderless 2014”, is the Third Annual Conference of the Borderless Alliance, expected to hold at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos,

Nigeria, this week, for three consecutive days, the statement added.

The conference, which will commence on Wednesday 26 with the theme “Enabling Growth,” is being co-hosted by the Nigerian Export – Import Bank (NEXIM) and the Nigeria Shippers Council, both members of the Borderless Alliance.

According to the statement, the conference would engage participants in an informative programme ‘’of high profile speakers, facilitate networking and business opportunities for participants and alsoprovide attractive exhibition and marketing opportunities for sponsors, as well as participants.’’It also said that participants expected at the conference would include experts, high level businessmen and women, experienced transport and logistics specialists, development partners, national governments, supply chain professionals, multinational companies, bankers, port management officials and investors across a wide range of industries.Commenting on the forthcoming conference, the President of the Borderless Alliance, Mr. Ziad Hamoui, said, “The Borderless 2014 conference in Lagos will be well-positioned to reach the developing markets in the Sub-region, from the commercial heart of West Africa.It will also be the most important advocacy and informational event around.”

Meanwhile, the MD/CEO of NEXIM Bank, Mr. Roberts Orya, according to the statement, pointed out, ‘’Supporting strategic initiatives, such as the Borderless Alliance, which seek to minimize or totally remove non-tariff barriers to trade across the ECOWAS sub-region and Africa, is pivotal to NEXIM Bank’s mandate to promote and deepen the export of non-oil products and services.”

He reiterated the commitment of the Bank to facilitating the Regional Sealink Project which is expected to provide maritime connectivity for enhanced movement of persons, goods and services across Africa, adding that the Borderless Alliance, a regional advocacy organization established in 2011, was committed towards promoting and facilitating cross-border trade and reducing procedural inefficiencies.

The statement further disclosed that Borderless Alliance had a membership of more than 50 private sector companies, working in collaboration with public institutions, civil societies and the media in West Africa to increase trade.