EU reiterates commitment to SON agenda. CERTAIN that quality infrastructure and standardisation of the nation’s economy would boost the country’s competitiveness in the global market, the European Union (EU) has reiterated its commitment to helping relevant agencies achieve such mandate. The EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Michel Arrion, explained during a meeting with the Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Joseph Odumodu, that the union was determined to work with other donor agencies to avoid duplication of projects in the country and as well avoid gap. Arrion, who spoke in Abuja yesterday, said such efforts would help the EU achieve its mandates and make impact on the Nigerian economy. According to him, Nigeria, as the second largest hub of European Mission in Africa, after Addis Ababa - being the EU headquarters - has the advantage of enjoying more of the union’s presence. “We are engaged in very strong and positive development of political and policy issues with the Nigerian authority,” he said. “Regional issues are also very key in the agenda because of ECOWAS, due to Nigeria’s leading position in the region and the importance of its economy. “We are looking at the role Nigeria can play both in the economy and political stability of the region. The EU itself has been quite an achiever in terms of economic integration. “We know that the issue of standardisation has been the core of the constitution of the EU in the common market. We are working on the issues on free movement of goods, services, financial services and people across the EU.” For Odumodu, the EU in past years has given the country some landmark support through developmental activities, more so with the current national policy infrastructure (NQI) project, which is meant to strengthen the domestic environment to make the country more competitive within the global environment. He charged the union to find better ways and modalities to implement its projects so that both Nigeria and the EU could have satisfaction on the projects, adding that delay in the release of funds usually hampers deadlines.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:48:39 +0000
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