Ambassador Victor Asije, the pioneer Opradar Japan’s Trade Information and Engagement Representative in Africa, has called on more Africans in agriculture and other sectors to desist from waiting to be discovered.
Asije told journalists in Lagos at the weekend that Africans should become more alive to harnessing the continent’s huge natural and human resources to providing for global needs and demands.
According to him, Africans have no need to complain of hunger, unemployment, lack, under-development and undue dependence on foreign assistance if the continent’s long envied resources are well harnessed to meet internationally-acceptable good quality standards.
“More than ever before, there is growing needs and demands for Africa’s foods, fibers, fuel, raw materials, brands and services that should attract more Africans to become creative and productive.
“It is interesting to add that Africa’s diamond, sugar, salt, cobalt, iron, petroleum, silver, and gold, copper, natural gas, cocoa, beans, traditional wears, tropical timber and tropical fruits, are also currently in higher global needs and demands.
“So, with these natural and human resources that abound in Africa, Africans should not, and cannot continue to wait to be discovered!. Other continents are waiting to receive those produce, brands and services they need from each African country,” he said.
The ambassador added that it was vitally important for African farmers, providers of
brand and services to realise that they were geographically and strategically located to mutually satisfy the needs, wants, and demands of other continents.
Asije, who noted that God had created an interconnected, interdependent, indivisible and inseparable world, further enjoined more Africans to become alive to their responsibilities of harnessing their resources for the common good of the world.
“What the West doesn’t have, the East has, What the East doesn’t have, the West has, what the North doesn’t have, the South has. This is how interconnected, and interdependent the world is meant to be!.
“Just as other continents need Africa ,it is to the same degree to which Africa needs other continents. Nations of the world will continue to look up to Africa for what Africa has that they are not naturally endowed with. And there’s a lot that Africa would continue to also derive from other countries of the world. It is that interesting!.
The Opradar Japan’s representative in Africa, however, said that it is imperative for Africans to know the basic requirements, quality and standards needed by each foreign country for their produce, brands, services and deals.
According to him, it is required of every exporter to know the receiving country’s good quality standards set for imported produce, goods, brands and services.
Asije said that Opradar Japan was on a mission to creating mutually beneficial opportunities, for access and support for success in Japan and Asia for African companies, individuals, organisations, traders, marketers and entrepreneurs.
“Opradar Japan is currently providing Japan opportunities that more Africans must begin to take advantage of. It is advisable that more interested African visit our website and sign up,” he said.