International Trade Centre Pledges Support For Lagos State Growth Agenda

Ms. Arancha Gonzalex, Executive Director International Trade Centre and Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, All Progressive Congress Governorship candidate in Lagos State during a meeting to promote investments into the state in Geneva yesterday ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos

Ms. Arancha González, the Executive Secretary of the International Trade Centre (ITC) has pledged that the agency will support the growth agenda of Lagos State.

She made this disclosure during an interaction with Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State Gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 elections in Geneva.

The engagement was an extension of the gubernatorial candidate’s consultations with critical stakeholders and international organizations that could support the attainment of his vision for a greater Lagos.

Specifically, Sanwo-Olu who recently launched his policy agenda for Lagos tagged ‘THEME’, hinted that excellent delivery of socio-economic programmes to residents of a cosmopolitan city like Lagos will require more than willingness on the part of the government, but also the support of world-class human-centered organisations in the areas of frameworks, templates, collaborations, trainings and insights are critical to the success of his vision for Lagos.

“We have a vision to make Lagos a 21st century economy. This is an exciting aspiration targeted at transforming every aspect of Lagos life. We know that beyond the huge infrastructural requirements and regulatory framework revision, there are also significant human capital development needs that will support the success of this goal. Hence, our call for support by notable global organizations like the International Trade Centre with impressive track-record of helping growing economies,” said Sanwo-Olu.

Responding to Sanwo-Olu, Ms. Arancha González, the Executive Director of the ITC,  a joint agency of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations, said “the ITC’s goal is to help developing and transition countries achieve sustainable human development through exports, adding that it is also a development partner for small business export success”.

“Lagos is an important city in the world, and because of our commitment to economic development and wellbeing of mankind, we are always inclined to support human-centered programmes. It is pleasing that health, environment, education and technology are some of the focal areas of your agenda because these elements are major items of discussion in the modern world” said  González.

Earlier Sanwo-Olu had said that Lagos in future will be in a position to host the World Economic Forum.

“By hosting the World Economic Forum in Lagos, business and political leaders from across the globe will see potentials of our state, provide advice and insights into how to transform the state into a 21st century economy, and attract investors through business-friendly policies to the state,” enthused Sanwo-Olu.

Accordingly, Lagos State may soon become a convergence point for political and business leaders across the globe following Sanwo-Olu’s quest for rapid socio-economic transformation.

The APC gubernatorial candidate has obtained the commitment of the ITC to facilitate and support the hosting of the World Economic Forum in Lagos in future if he won his election to become the Governor.