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Summary
Dr. Jumoke Oduwole declared open the 8th D-8 PTA Supervisory Committee Session in Abuja, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to regional trade. She also announced the launch of a new SME Centre to support small businesses and boost cross-border commerce among D-8 countries.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, successfully hosted the 8th Session of the Supervisory Committee of the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement (SC PTA) on June 16, 2025, in Abuja.
The high-level meeting was officially declared open by the Honourable Minister, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole MFR, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Jumoke emphasised Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the principles and objectives of the D-8, calling the PTA a vital tool for unlocking trade potential, expanding industrial capacity, and promoting inclusive economic growth among member states.
She highlighted Nigeria’s role as Africa’s largest economy and a founding member of the D-8, noting strides made in domesticating the PTA and aligning national trade policies with its provisions. Dr. Jomoke urged delegates to focus on actionable outcomes, including accelerating tariff concessions, enhancing private sector participation, strengthening technical cooperation, and promoting digital trade and investment facilitation.
One of the key announcements during the session was the planned launch of the D-8 SME Centre, an initiative led by Nigeria’s Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN). Set to open on June 17, 2025, the centre aims to empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across D-8 countries, facilitating their engagement in cross-border trade and supporting long-term PTA goals.
The session concluded with strong commitments from all D-8 Member States to deepen regional economic cooperation, fast-track trade facilitation, and implement innovative strategies for boosting intra-D-8 commerce.
