Avila Naturalle Limited, a manufacturer of natural beauty and wellness products, has commenced its inaugural shipment to Kenya through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) after being selected amongst the Nigerian frontline companies to pioneer Nigeria’s inaugural shipment to other African countries.
Avila is shipping some of its flagship products of high demand within the African region, including Raw Shea Butter, Papaya Bar Soap, Papaya Shea Body Butter and Coconut Shea Body Butter to Kenya, under the guidance and facilitation of AfCFTA Nigeria; Nigerian Customs Service, and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO).
Speaking during the ceremony at the NAHCO Export Plaza in Lagos, Senior Trade Expert/Lead, Trade Enablement, National Action Committee on AfCFTA, Olusegun Olutayo said the shipment marks another milestone in the implementation of the AfCFTA Nigeria Guided Trade Initiative and also a step in the right direction for the economic development of Nigeria, which is a significant agenda of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to Olutayo, this milestone shipment marks a significant step forward in the implementation of the AfCFTA in Nigeria, which aims to promote intra-African trade and economic integration that provides Nigerian businesses the opportunity to export their products seamlessly, ultimately further paving the way for the country’s economic growth.
He said Nigeria’s current Import-Export ratio must be significantly reversed to ensure that the country’s import dependency is drastically reduced while reinforcing the export activities.
Speaking during the event, which also witnessed the presentation of the Certificate of Origin to Avila Naturalle, President/CEO of Avila Naturalle Limited, Dr. Mrs Temitope Mayegun said Nigeria’s inaugural shipping through the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative is a significant milestone both for Avila Naturalle and Nigeria.
“It is a great privilege to be part of this historic moment in the development of trade in Africa. We are truly grateful to the AfCFTA, Nigeria, and other government agencies involved in the facilitation of this great feat, including the Nigerian Customs Service and NAHCO. This initiative is significant to us at Avila Naturalle as it not only aligns with our strategic corporate objective of expanding the reach of our products to a wider audience across the continent of Africa but also validates our capacity and readiness to harness the opportunities of the intra-Africa transborder trade”.
“With this inaugural shipping, Avila Naturalle aims to penetrate the African continental market expansively through our extensive distribution network and collaboration with new international sales partners. We are embarking on what I will describe as an exciting new chapter, redefining the natural skincare terrain as part of our strategic business direction that emphasizes productivity and international expansion,” she said.