African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is building its third African Quality Assurance Center (AQAC) in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
The development of the facility in Kaduna State, comes on the heels of the successful commission of the pilot AQAC in Ogun Sate and the ongoing second site in Imo State.
In a statement by the bank, the new project is located on a 5-hectare piece of land within the Green Agro Allied Industrial Zone (GAAIZ) situated along the Kaduna-Abuja road in Chikun Local Government Area.
Ms. Oluranti Doherty, Director, Export Development, Afreximbank , said: ” The AQAC in Kaduna State will provide conformity assessment in the food and agri services, textile, leather and packaging sectors for the Northern Region of Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries.”
Ms. Oluranti Doherty, thanked Governor Uba Sani for the allocation of an additional two hectares to the project, and affirmed Afreximbank’s intention to swiftly progress with the implementation of the AQAC in Kaduna State on the 5-hectare piece of land.
Photo:
Ms. Oluranti Doherty, Director, Export Development, Afreximbank; Mr. Ohioze Unuigbe, Bureau Veritas Government Relations Sales Director, Africa; Mr. Jean Michel Perret, Managing Director, Bureau Veritas Nigeria., Mrs. Patience Fakai, Honourable Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology during the presentation of the
AQAC’s certificate of occupancy to Afreximbank, by the Kaduna State Government.
She explained that the Bank embarked on the AQAC initiative in order to ensure that “Made in Africa” products meet international standards and technical regulations in order to avoid rejections at export markets in line with the Bank’s mandate of promoting intra- and extra-African trade.
Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, expressed the State Government’s gratitude to Afreximbank for the choice to set up an AQAC in Kaduna State.
She assured the Bank of the State Government’s commitment to ensuring the successful implementation and completion of the project.
The AQAC in Kaduna State will be developed in partnership with Bureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspection and certification, who will provide technical support in managing and operating the facility.