The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola, has called on business leaders from Nigeria and South Africa to lay more emphasis on effective execution of people-oriented and economy-growing policies.
Speaking at the Nigeria-South Africa Economic Diplomacy Roundtable in Lagos on Thursday, Mr. Toriola said that the collective economic weights of Nigeria and South Africa were enormous enough to be used to accelerate Africa’s development.
Proposing a three-point agenda to accelerate Africa’s economic growth, he said that the first would be the activation of Africa Continental Free Trade Area beyond the paper work.
Toriola highlighted the need to standardise customs processes, harmonise trade and implement digital documentation.
“When rules match, trade moves,” he said, emphasising that simplified regulation was key to unlocking the pact’s potential.
‘’The second priority should focus on the establishment of trusted rails to secure and facilitate digital commerce.
‘’The foundational elements include: robust digital identity systems, fast-clearing payment systems for cross-border transactions,’’ he said.
Toriola affirmed MTN’s commitment to providing reliable networks and securing platforms and scalable partnerships that would allow small and medium-sized enterprises, creators and families to transact with confidence.
He said that creating predictability for investors was necessary to attract and retain capital.
According to him, predictability is a growth strategy for jobs and revenue and positions regulatory clarity as an economic imperative.
He assured that MTN Nigeria would support efforts by hosting technical sessions, providing digital infrastructure and committing to report back on progress.
” Lagos is a city that builds, Johannesburg is a city that scales. Let us connect those strength now,” he added.
GIK/APA