Monarch urges FG, OPS to facilitate the National Policy on Technical Regulations

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Obi-of-Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, has urged the Federal
Government and Organised Private Sector (OPS) to facilitate the establishment of the National Policy on Technical Regulation to fruther boost trade.


Achebe said this on Friday when members of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) working group on the ``Green Paper’’ for the National Policy on Technical Regulations paid him a courtesy call in Onitsha.


The group was in Onitsha for a  South-East Consultative Forum towards the strengthening of institutional dialogue on the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) Project meant for the ``Green Paper’’ for the  National Policy on Technical Regulations.


The monarch noted that Nigerians were in dire need of the policy in order to reduce wastages and for manufactures and producers both in the extractive and secondary industries to get value for their investment via global trade.


 ``The policy, when passed and implemented, would give Nigerians greater access to the international market since all would know the international standard for each product and service.


``This no doubt would check limitation to international trade and make the country to have its fair share in the global market, which is dominated by countries with standardized technical regulations,’’ Achebe said.


He assured the group that Onitsha traders and entire OPS within the South-East would give them the needed audience and inputs.


The monarch also thanked UNIDO for facilitating the project as well as development of the production and trade capacity of the country.


Earlier, Prof. Abimbola Uzomah, the Lead National Expert on Technical Regulations of the NQI Project, said that the group was in the South-East to sensitize the people on the ``Green Paper’’ for the National Policy on Technical Regulations.


``We want to give opportunity for Nigerians especially regulatory agencies and the OPS in this region to understand what is contained in the ``Green Paper’’ for the National Policy on Technical Regulations; which would allow them make positive inputs.


``We (UNIDO) want the policy to be people’s driven and have all the necessary conditions streamlined to give as a policy that is people’s friendly and at the same time meet international standard,’’ Uzomah said.


Highlight of the visit was a photography by the monarch, his cabinet members and members of the group on the ``Green Paper’’ for the National Policy on Technical Regulations.


UNIDO – 1: The Obi-of-Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe (middle) flanked by the Lead National Expert on Technical Regulations of UNIDO National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) Project, Prof. Abimbola Uzomah (left) and UNIDO Expert on Co-ordination, Mr Simeon Umukoro (right).