 STORY.jpg)
GUARDIAN Monday September 26, 2011
Airlines services and logistics plc, has announced plans to establish export processing zones at the at the nation's airport as part of its divestment measures.
Specifically, the company has concluded plans to process Nigerian foodstuffs for export through its operational base at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The initiative, according to the company, would be to package Nigerian delicacies to make food export easy and convenient, as well as allowing tourists to share local delicacies with friends and family at home.
Stating this at the Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) conference and exhibition in Lagos over the weekend, the Chief Executive Officer of ASL Plc, Richard Akerele said, it was time the country developed her non-oil export to compliment crude oil export.
"Nigerians food is one of our greatest cultural assets and this initiative was designed to make it easier for Nigerians to take their favourite food-stuffs away with them. Nigeria must significantly increase its non-oil export base over the coming years in order to successfully diversify our economy and food can play a major role in this process, especially as agriculture is one of our fastest growing sectors. That’s why we are establishing this shop and why we are actively working to expand the number of export processing zones in Nigeria from Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, to the airports across the nation." Akerele said.
