Nigeria Has Potentials For Wine Business – Jamek Wine Boss To Spanish Government 

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Iweh made the call during the visit of the Economic and Commercial Advisor to Embassy of Spain Government in Nigeria, Mr. Victor Ekechukwu, to Jamek Wines office located at Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, on facts finding mission about the company. 

 “I want to use the opportunity of this visit to my small office to call on the Government of Spain to come down to this country and build a factory here, it is cheaper. Nigeria is major consumer of Spanish wines.”

 Mr. Iweh stated that Jamex Wine is a brand company, whose branches are located apart from Okota, at Trade Fair Complex and in Owerri, Imo State.  

James Iweh explained that he had been in the business of importing wines into Nigeria for more than a decade now and 80 percent of the wines he sells in his offices are Spanish wines which are of high premium quality. 

He however, regrets that the Nigerian Government’s policy, the banks and exchange rates are making business activities herculean for importers.  

He said, “I am into this business because I care more about the health of Nigerians. Most Nigerians drink whatever they see in green bottle. I joined this business not to make profit; if you follow me up on my pages and group chats, I tell people whatever they need to drink”.

“For example, a Nigerian buys wine to drink; he doesn’t care about the fruits used in producing that wine. I can tell you that ninety-five percent of the red wines we drink here comes from Spain. So, Spanish wines are doing greatly in Nigeria. So I can tell you that Spain is a lead way when it comes to wine consumption in Nigeria.  I am into this business so that Nigerians can drink quality wines. The very reason I went to Spain recently was to tell them to up their game in wine production, produce quality wines for the country.”

“While in Spain I was well treated and apart from Coscharis that does BMW, the best wine you can talk about comes from Spain; I mean first class product.”

Speaking about the challenges in importation, a visibly elated James said, “The major challenges are what I have addressed in Germany and Spain exchange rate. Let me break the news today, hardly you see a Nigerian going to China to seek asylum, nobody goes there. Why? One Chinese Yern is 97 Naira. For instance, let us say Jamek has N12m in his account and needs dollars, the practice in sane climes is that the money would be changed and sent to the company’s account that he wants to imports from direct but that is not the practice here in Nigeria; you have to go to the black market to source for dollars”.

“And in going to the black market to source it out, you will find out that it will be very difficult for a common Nigerian to buy the wine when it eventually arrives the country, whereas wine is the next thing after water. That is one challenge. The next challenge is the clearing. You bring a container into the Nigerian wharf, to clear it you are going to borrow money and that you know is very stressful. The next challenge is that the Government does not care about trade, about how the individual business man goes about his business. If they do, they would know what we are going through. The kind of loan Nigerian banks give, I term it as shylock loans. In Germany and other foreign countries, when a bank gives you loan, you are given 6 months within which to start payment; having monitored the business for which the loan was procured. But here in Nigeria, when a bank gives you loan, you are expected to start payment almost immediately. It doesn’t work.”

Earlier, Mr. Victor Ekechukwu, the Economic and Commercial advisor to the Government of Spain in Nigeria, said their duty basically in that unit is advisory.
He said, “What we do at the commercial and economic section is that we facilitate business development, bilateral trade; we facilitate the visibility of Spanish product by way of investment, outward investment between Spain and Nigeria and equally connect Spanish companies with the opportunities in Nigeria and also facilitate Nigerian export to Spain on demand by Spanish companies”. 
“So basically, the objective is to enable Spanish Companies have visibility in Nigeria as well as West Africa countries. So basically we cover Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa including Gabon, Togo, Cote De Ivorie, Chad ,Niger, and Benin Republic.”

“The business relationship between Nigeria and Spain is healthy and impressive. In fact, it was recorded in 2012 and the trade volume recorded about $20 billion annually and currently there are certain sectors that are a lot more viable in terms of wine, which is what Jamek Wine is doing. Spain is into wine production, textiles and leather and of course other consumables and all these enjoy robust exportation between Nigeria and Spain.”
“I am here to have an acquaintance with Jamek Wine as well as ascertain the viability of Jamek Wine. With what I have seen, Jamek Wine is doing great and I am certain we are going to do business with Jamek Wine in Nigeria in the very near future” he concluded.