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Bayelsa Seeks Stake in $3.5 Billion Brass Fertiliser, Petrochemical Project

•Diri assures firm of support, commends Tinubu

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State government has solicited for equity stake in the Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical Company project about to commence on the Brass Island in the state.
Governor Douye Diri made the request yesterday when the management team of the company paid him a visit in Government House, Yenagoa, stressing that the state’s position became necessary due to the negative fallouts in excluding oil producing states and local governments from the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Diri in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, contended that implementation of the PIA had been hampered in host communities due to the anomaly in the legislation.
He noted that the disregard in the PIA of the Nigerian Constitution, which vests control of land in the state government, was a flaw that has necessitated calls for its review.
He said: “Let us ensure that the state is not totally excluded from being partners in progress in this whole process. The PIA is one good example.
“When it was in its formative stages as a bill, we made a presentation through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. We did that after consulting with our people, communities and chiefs. But at the end of the day, our inputs were ignored and thrown overboard as the PIA excluded the oil producing states and their local governments.
“The federal government now interacts directly with the communities and that is an affront on the Nigerian Constitution. The Constitution says the land belongs to the state government and not the federal government.
“The Constitution recognises communities as under the local government and the state government. These anomalies in the PIA have made the law a time bomb. Today, because of the PIA, there are intra and inter-communal conflicts and litigations. So even funds that have been realised for their development cannot be disbursed to the communities. If anybody thinks the state is not very important, we will then wash off our hands.”
The governor expressed the hope that the petrochemical company would be different and urged the management to partner the state government to correct the imbalance and avert conflicts in its host communities.
Diri, who commended the President Bola Tinubu administration for resuscitating the project, said it was long overdue.
He said that the Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical Company was conceptualised in 2009 but gained some traction during the administration of his predecessor before it fizzled out again.
He equally appreciated the president for his positive response to the state’s requests for federal government presence as exemplified in revival of the fertiliser and petrochemical project.
Speaking earlier, Managing Director of the Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical Company, Chief Ben Okoye, said the visit was to formally inform the state government that work on the $3.5 billion project would start in October this year.
Okoye explained that the 10,000 metric tonnes of methanol per day project was delayed as there was no agreement reached on the gas component but that President Tinubu last October directed the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas) to get it started and that the agreement was signed in January this year.
He assured the state government that the necessary steps have been taken to implement the project in full and thanked the governor for constructing the Nembe-Brass road, which he noted would save the company up to $100,000 in logistics costs in moving equipment and materials on the river to the project site.
The Project Coordinator, Mr. Cyril Akika, in a presentation, listed the benefits of the project to include economic transformation as more than 15,000 jobs would be created during construction and over 5,000 permanent jobs.
He also stated that the project would increase tax revenues, royalties, internally generated revenue, boost Bayelsa SMEs through project supply chains and equity dividends for the state.
Other benefits include infrastructure and community impact, positioning of the Brass Free Zone as global petrochemical hub as well as development of port, jetty, logistics base and a 300MW gas-fired power plant to ensure energy security among others.

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•Diri assures firm of support, commends Tinubu Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa The Bayelsa State government has solicited for equity stake in the Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical Company project about to
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Crude Oil Refiners to Brainstorm on Africa’s Refining Agenda at 2025 Summit

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) has announced its summit for 2025, explaining that the event is set to shape Africa’s refining agenda in a bid to ensure energy security on the continent.
Scheduled to take place in Lagos on October 6-7, 2025, the two-day programme themed: “Refining: Key to Energy Security in Africa,” will convene top leaders from government, industry, finance, and civil society to chart a new course for Africa’s refining future.
A statement from the organisation stressed that Africa, despite being a major crude oil producer, remains heavily reliant on imported petroleum products. In Nigeria before now, over 90 per cent of refined fuel has been imported, leaving the economy exposed to global shocks, draining reserves, and inflating costs, it said.
The 2023 removal of fuel subsidies, it pointed out, further underscored the urgency of building a self-sufficient refining sector as households and industries grappled with rising energy prices.
“Today, with the establishment of both conventional refineries and modular refineries, expanding private investment, and accelerating policy reforms, the opportunity to reimagine Africa’s refining future has never been greater,” the statement added.
The summit, it said, will feature keynote sessions, technical panels, advertisements, and high-level networking.
According to the statement, discussions will address pressing issues, including investor-friendly policies, financing and de-risking strategies, innovative and cleaner refining technologies, regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA), energy transition and job creation in the refining and petrochemical sectors.
“After decades of exporting crude and importing refined products at great cost, the time has come to refine more at home, create jobs, and secure Africa’s energy future,” said the President of CORAN, Momoh Oyarekhua.
“The CORAN Summit 2025 is not just another meeting; it is a rallying point for action, partnerships, and policy direction to transform the refining landscape,” Oyarekhua added.
The gathering is expected to catalyse policy reforms, forge new partnerships between government and private operators, promote global best practices, and position Nigeria as Africa’s refining hub, reducing dependence on imports and enhancing energy security across the continent.
CORAN, the umbrella body for licensed crude oil refining companies in Nigeria, said it continues to champion sustainable refining, policy reform, and private-sector-driven solutions to Africa’s energy challenges, stressing that the summit will be a milestone in advancing those goals.

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Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) has announced its summit for 2025, explaining that the event is set to shape Africa’s refining agenda in
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Abba Bello: NEXIM Bank Has Disbursed N420 Billion Concessionary Loans to Non-oil Exporters, Created 12,000 Jobs

•Hails restriction on shea nut export, reaffirms commitment to SMEs funding, mentorship

James Emejo in Abuja

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Abubakar Abba Bello, yesterday disclosed that the bank disbursed about N420 billion to non-oil exporters at concessionary, single-digit interest rate of nine per cent.
Bello spoke at an interactive session with All Progressives Congress (APC) youth members on financing SMEs’ non-oil export activities, in Abuja.
Bello also said over 12,000 direct jobs had been created through the funding intervention to the subsector.
He said a total of N137 billion, out of the N150 billion Export Development Fund (EDF), had so far been released to NEXIM by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In 2018, the central bank introduced the N150 billion EDF – a debenture to support non-oil exports – with the funds channelled to NEXIM for distribution to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
The NEXIM managing director pointed out that the bank had moved beyond the EDF, stating that NEXIM’s total assets currently stood at about N430 billion, all of which was deployed to financing exporters.
He said all lending by the bank followed same conditions as that of EDF.
Bello said the federal government’s recent six-month ban on shea nut exports was a strategic step to support local processors and reduce production costs.
He stated that though the country supplied 40–60 per cent of global shea, it lacked industrial processing plants until 2018.
He said, “When we came on board in 2018, not one industrial plant was processing shea in Nigeria.
“Since then, we’ve financed four, located in Ogun, Kano, and two in Niger State, all now in production.”
According to him, a newly commissioned plant in Niger State had struggled to source raw shea due to competition from long-established foreign buyers who moved the product to neighbouring countries for processing.
Bello said, “The export ban guarantees a stable supply chain for these plants and reduces input costs. I believe we’ll now have excess shea for local processing.”
While urging the government to consider extending the suspension to one year to encourage further investment in domestic value addition, Bello called for a wider policy to discourage the export of raw agricultural products.
He said, “Let’s not stop at shea. We should begin phasing out the export of unprocessed commodities across other agricultural value chains. This is how we keep jobs and wealth at home.”
He emphasised the need for continuity and regular engagement, not just one-off events, and adding that the bank plans to organise quarterly encounters going forward.
He also promised an open-door policy to exporters, particularly SMEs, adding that as a trade facilitation agency, it is ready to assist in whatever capacity to make their export ambitions a reality.
Bello said the bank aimed to support service exports, including event planning, digital outsourcing, particularly call centres, accounting, and legal services.
He said, “If foreign exchange inflows are assured, NEXIM will finance service contracts abroad.”
Bello encouraged Nigerian businesses to participate in African infrastructure projects, stressing that the bank supports cross-border trade and wants to help Nigerian companies expand into Africa.
He said the bank will also support exporters in niche or unconventional sectors.
Bello said, “NEXIM is investing in youth training and partnerships to build export capacity.”
He reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to boost the capacity of the services industry to export.
According to him, services constitute about 55 per cent of the country’s GDP, and remain the biggest sector of the economy.

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•Hails restriction on shea nut export, reaffirms commitment to SMEs funding, mentorship James Emejo in Abuja Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Abubakar Abba Bello, yesterday disclosed that
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Tinubu Celebrates Adesina’s Decade-long Leadership at AfDB as He Bows Out

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu applauded Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s foresight and extraordinary performance at the African Development Bank (AfDB), as he bowed out on Monday, after a decade-long service as president of the pan-African development institution
Speaking at the unveiling of a book and farewell ceremony, with the theme, “Akinwumi A. Adesina: The Man, His Mandate, Mission and Message,” held at the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Tinubu highlighted Adesina’s transformative leadership and contributions to Africa’s economic development.
Represented by Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the president stated that through his High 5 agenda, Adesina drove economic growth, improved food security, and promoted regional integration across the continent.
Quoting Tinubu’s message on the occasion, a statement issued by Director, Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, read, “We celebrate your decade-long leadership and achievements at the African Development Bank. Your dedication to Africa’s economic transformation has inspired a new generation of leaders.
“We wish you continued success in your future endeavours.”

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Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja President Bola Tinubu applauded Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s foresight and extraordinary performance at the African Development Bank (AfDB), as he bowed out on Monday, after a decade-long
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PAVE: To Counter Extremism, FG Must Prioritise Investment in Development

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The Chairman of the National Steering Committee of the Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) Network – PCVE-KIRH, Jaye Gaskia, yesterday stated that the government must prioritise investment in development to effectively counter and prevent violent extremism in Nigeria.
Speaking at the two-day Media Capacity Building, Roundtable, Dialogue, and Flag-Off of the Media in PCVE Network in Abuja, Gaskia said that Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) should be viewed as a development intervention, rather than an ad hoc measure intended merely to address an issue on an interim basis.
“I would simply say that development should be prioritised; and if we are speaking about the development of our communities and society, then our investment – our public investment, as reflected in our budget – should also demonstrate that we are prioritising development.
“This means, for instance, that if the challenges in our society revolve around livelihoods, unemployment, and poverty, then the bulk of our public investment should be directed towards addressing these issues. That is how we know we are genuinely prioritising development.
“Essentially, when we prioritise defence and law enforcement over development, we are just waiting for crises to emerge. Instead of investing in mitigating crises after they have escalated, we should invest in circumstances that reduce the likelihood of crises arising in the first place, so that we do not have to allocate as many resources to defence and law enforcement,” he argued.
He noted that defence should be about protecting the country’s territorial integrity, and law enforcement should be about maintaining public order, observing that when law enforcement becomes about enforcing conformity, it signals a serious systemic breakdown.
In such cases, he advised that the government should focus its investment on addressing the root causes of that breakdown, rather than merely mitigating its effects.
“While building response capacity is important, it is even more crucial to recognise that these crises originate from developmental challenges. The most effective way to address them is to focus on resolving those underlying developmental issues,” he said.
In a paper titled “Conflict-Sensitive Journalism and Responsible PCVE Reporting”, a resource person, Senator Iroegbu, cautioned reporters against sensationalising conflict stories.
Iroegbu, who acknowledged the power of the media both to inflame society and to promote peace and tranquillity, also appealed to peace and conflict reporters to exercise this power responsibly.
He further emphasised the need to draw a line between reporting on terrorist activities and inadvertently advancing the agenda of terrorists, stressing that publicity is the oxygen and lifeblood of terrorism.
While urging reporters to always be objective, factual, and balanced in their reporting, Iroegbu advised journalists to be sensitive to the cultural and religious nuances of the communities they cover.

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Linus Aleke in Abuja The Chairman of the National Steering Committee of the Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) Network – PCVE-KIRH, Jaye Gaskia, yesterday stated that the government must prioritise
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Dangote Refinery: One Year, One Refinery, A Nation Transformed

By Abiodun Alade

In just 12 months, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has shifted Nigeria from fuel importer to regional energy supplier, stabilised its currency, slashed fuel costs, and sparked an industrial revival. As Africa’s largest refinery marks its first year of operation, it stands as a bold symbol of private ambition driving national transformation.

One year ago today, a long-standing paradox began to unravel in Nigeria.

For decades, despite being Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria was heavily reliant on imported refined petroleum products, particularly Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. While the country exported crude oil, it re-imported fuel at a premium, creating a costly and unsustainable cycle. The result was predictable: fuel scarcity, long queues, ballooning import bills, subsidy scam, smuggling of petrol and a national economy perpetually tethered to global oil market volatility.

But on 3 September 2024, that story began to change with the commencement of production of petrol at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, a privately built megaproject that has, in a single year, begun to redefine the country’s energy landscape and with it, much of the broader economy. The refinery is also producing diesel, jet fuel, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) among other products.

From Scarcity to Surplus

Located on the edge of the Atlantic in the Lekki Free Trade Zone just outside Lagos, the $20 billion refinery is the largest single-train facility, capable of processing 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Its commissioning last year was heralded as a potential turning point for Nigeria. Twelve months on, such optimism was not misplaced.

Fuel shortages, once a near-ritual during holiday seasons and election cycles, have largely disappeared. Petrol as well as diesel, and cooking gas prices have dropped, stabilising transport and household energy costs. In a country where inflation has been stubbornly high, this has offered a rare and tangible form of relief.

Moreover, Nigeria has remarkably shed its label as Africa’s top fuel importer, a title it held for decades. That distinction now belongs to South Africa.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hailed the refinery as “a remarkable achievement” and “a phenomenal project of our time,” underscoring its significance to Nigeria’s industrial and economic growth.

“This is more than what you see; it’s about what you can envision and build,” says Pan African Banker and Fintech expert, Patrick Akinwuntan. “Dangote’s success with this refinery teaches us that audacious leadership can overcome the biggest obstacles”

A Lifeline for the Naira

The refinery’s influence extends beyond fuel pumps and tank farms. By significantly reducing Nigeria’s reliance on fuel imports, the country has saved an estimated $25–$30 billion annually in foreign exchange, a staggering amount for an economy frequently grappling with currency crises.

This shift has helped stabilise the Naira, which has gained modest ground against major currencies for the first time in years. With less demand for dollars to pay for refined fuel imports, the Central Bank has found some breathing space in managing exchange rate volatility.

Furthermore, by exporting surplus refined products to neighbouring West African nations, the refinery has created a new stream of foreign exchange earnings, contributing to a rare surplus in Nigeria’s balance of payments in early 2025.

In September 2024, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, stated that lifting petrol from the refinery can turn around Nigeria’s dollar-starved economy

“This is also expected to moderate foreign exchange demand for importation of refined petroleum products, with a positive spillover on external reserve and improvement in the overall balance of payment position,” he added.

He added that CBN Monetary Policy Committee expressed optimism that it will moderate transportation costs and significantly support the easing of food price pressures in the short to medium term.

GDP Growth and Job Creation

The refinery is projected to add approximately $15 billion annually to Nigeria’s GDP, representing a vital infusion of real sector growth at a time when the economy is still recovering from the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple currency devaluations, and a costly fuel subsidy phase-out.
On the employment front, over 570,000 direct and indirect jobs have been created through the refinery’s operations and its wider value chain, including logistics, supply services, maintenance, and construction. Entire communities have emerged around the facility, supported by new roads, power infrastructure, and water systems that were previously non-existent.

More Than Oil: A Platform for Industrialisation

Beyond the numbers, the Dangote Refinery is repositioning Nigeria for deeper industrial development. By producing key by-products such as polypropylene, base oils, and jet fuel, the facility is stimulating growth in manufacturing, plastics, aviation, lubricants, and agro-processing.
It has also become a centre for skills transfer and technological learning, offering on-the-job training to thousands of Nigerian engineers and technicians who previously lacked access to advanced refining technology. In a country where “brain drain” is a persistent issue, this represents a quiet but critical investment in human capital.

“The Dangote Group has become a nurturing ground for Nigerian engineers, scientists, and technicians, many of whom have gone on to work as expatriates in various countries,” noted Funmi Sessi, chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Lagos State chapter.
She noted that this is not just about oil. It’s about knowledge, competence, and sovereignty.

The Road Ahead

While the refinery’s first year has delivered much-needed progress, the road ahead is not without hurdles. Crude oil supply consistency, export logistics, and continued importation of substandard petroleum products persist.

Still, for many Nigerians, the shift from energy dependency to relative stability is nothing short of monumental.
“One year in, and it’s already hard to imagine going back to how things were,” says Energy analyst Ibukun Phillips. “For once, the future feels like something we can build not just wait for.”

A New Chapter for Nigeria and Africa

As the world’s energy landscape evolves, Nigeria’s success in refining its own crude and exporting surplus fuel offers lessons for other resource-rich but import-dependent countries across the Global South. The Dangote Refinery is no silver bullet, but it is a powerful demonstration of what can happen when ambition, capital, and execution align in the right place at the right time.

President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr Omar Touray, lauded the refinery as a “beacon of hope for Africa’s future” and a demonstration of what the private sector could achieve in driving regional industrialisation.
In one year, one refinery has shifted the trajectory of a nation. And it may only be the beginning.
•Abiodun, a communications specialist writes from Lagos

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By Abiodun Alade In just 12 months, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has shifted Nigeria from fuel importer to regional energy supplier, stabilised its currency, slashed fuel costs, and sparked an
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THE NEED TO TACKLE ROAD ACCIDENTS

As we once again enter the “Ember Months” the period from September to December, concerns are already mounting over the perennial rise in road accidents during this season. Historically, this quarter of the year records an increase in crashes, injuries, and fatalities across the nation’s highways.

For years, many Nigerians have held the belief that the Ember Months are laced with negative spiritual forces, hence the spike in accidents. However, experts, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), maintain that the real reasons are far more practical. According to the FRSC, the surge in vehicular movement during this period, as families travel, traders move goods, and festivities draw closer, inevitably places heavy pressure on the roads.
Compounding the situation is the negative attitude of many drivers who show little or no regard for road safety regulations. Reckless driving, over-speeding, dangerous overtaking, and poor vehicle maintenance remain major culprits behind the bloodshed on Nigerian roads.

It is therefore imperative for the FRSC to intensify its preparedness during these months. Adequate logistics, personnel, and patrol vehicles must be deployed to ensure that reckless drivers including operators of articulated trucks are kept in check. More importantly, recalcitrant drivers must be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.

The responsibility does not rest on the FRSC alone. The federal government must provide the Corps with the required resources to carry out its mandate effectively, while state traffic management agencies should collaborate closely to ensure accident-free roads during the Ember Months.

Furthermore, security agencies should caution their personnel against extortion of drivers and the creation of unnecessary checkpoints. Such practices not only fuel frustration but also cause long traffic buildups that heighten the risk of crashes.

Nigeria cannot continue to lose precious lives every Ember season to preventable road accidents. The time to act is now. With collective responsibility, strict enforcement of traffic laws, and genuine commitment from drivers, government, and security agencies, the roads can be made safer and the tragic pattern of Ember Month casualties can finally be broken.

Tochukwu Jimo Obi,jimobi83@gmail.com

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As we once again enter the “Ember Months” the period from September to December, concerns are already mounting over the perennial rise in road accidents during this season. Historically, this
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INDIA AT 79 YEARS AGE, IN A CRISIS

In global affairs, discretion is always wiser than valour, writes

RAJENDRA ANEJA

As India celebrates its 79^th birthday, it has bountiful aspirations. First, it should control its population. India has the largest population in the world, at 1.46 billion. Every country has circumscribed resources of land, water, food, jobs, etc. If the population keeps growing, India will not be able to improve the quality of life of its citizens. The country needs to undertake persuasive family planning.

India needs to provide more food to all citizens. Many of the urban and rural poor live on one or two meals a day, instead of three meals and an evening snack. We need to ensure that people eat nutritious food. Eating wholesome food is becoming difficult, due to inflation. Prices of dairy products, lentils and flour have been swelling. Fruits like apples are becoming luxuries.

Whilst overall poverty is diminishing, there are millions yet living in destitution in the cities and villages. They subsist on free food grains and cash transfers, bestowed by governments, as election bonanzas. India is the fourth largest economy in the world. However, the country ranks 141^st in per capita GDP globally. The fruits of high growth, should trickle down to every person. There are significant income inequalities in the country. Rising medical costs are distressing the lower-incomed. Medicines and hospitals rates have spiraled. A serious illness, can erase the life-savings of an uninsured middle-class person. About 64 percent of India lives in villages. Rural clinics need to be better equipped and staffed.

India needs to become investor friendly, to attract more capital in high-technology industries. To entice investment, it needs to improve the urban infrastructure, so that life is comfortable and enjoyable. India also needs economically priced housing, so that nobody sleeps on pavements. The streets are incredibly dirty, in the bigger and older cities. India needs to clean them mechanically.

India needs to generate millions of jobs to employ the youth-explosion. India may be the youth factory of the world, but then youngsters have to travel to other countries, to earn their livelihood. The education in schools and universities needs to be job and skill oriented. Everyone wants to specialize in Information Technology. But a country needs manufacturing, marketing and medical skills too. India needs clarity about the areas in which Artificial Intelligence, can improve productivity. AI should not just become another buzz-word.

Indians should guard against celebrity worship. What movie and sports stars wear and eat, is becoming more important than our own lives. Knowledge has to be esteemed, not sensationalism. Whilst we respect animals, we cannot let stray dogs and nomadic leopards maul children or senior citizens.

Indians need to work together, irrespective of religion, creed or language. A country with multifarious cultures and languages cannot fight within. It will fragment. The focus should be on character building. The young need to read more books and spend less time on digital apps.

Indians need to exercise daily, to burn the calories of oily diets, to prevent the country from becoming obese. Finally, Indians need to rediscover the lost joys of long walks, among mountains, trees and flowers.

These are many hopes for India, but even if a few are fulfilled in the next decade, it will be a cheerful journey.

Now, India is confronted with the new challenge of managing the 50 percent tariffs imposed on many products, by the USA. The tariffs are hurting. Orders for products like apparel, gem stones, footwear, shrimps, etc., are on hold. Workers in major production centres are in turmoil. Most small and medium sized exporters of these items, fear that the future will be bleak. Many of these factories will face closure. Their workmen may lose their livelihoods.

Manufacture of products like garments and footwear, is labour intensive. So, thousands of workers may get unemployed. Many women work in the apparel industry, particularly in South India. They support their families financially. Their lives will be adversely impacted. Their children may not be able attend school. Poverty will rise at a time, when efforts are being made globally to diminish hunger and foster literacy. Then, local purchasing power will erode.

India could lose its competitive advantage of low-cost skilled labour, if its export markets dissolve. Countries like Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, China, Bangladesh, etc., will aggressively fill the gaps in supplies. India will struggle to get a foothold in the international market at a later stage. It is not easy to woo back lost customers.

India should not diffuse the issue by underscoring that USA wants to push its food grains and dairy products to India. Frankly, President Trump just wants India to stop buying Russian oil. Now, India has always taken a neutral posture on many global issues. The Indian purchase of Russian oil was always known across the world. India will have to negotiate with the USA and take a balanced stance. It will not be easy. However, there is no option. USA is one the richest and largest markets globally. No developing country can ignore it.

The high tariffs on many Indian products will lead to higher prices in the USA. It will also contract the demand for them. Some economists have recommended that India should focus on creating domestic demand for these products or scan alternate markets. Frankly, this many not be very practical. Indians are not going to suddenly wear more clothes or shoes or eat more shrimps.

The USA is a large and affluent market. Not many countries have its purchasing power. So, it is not easy to find other equivalent markets for Indian products. Every country has specific design or taste preferences. It takes years and decades to build a foreign market and loyal buyers. It is not simple.

So, it would be prudent for India to pursue the dialogue vigorously with the USA and seek a reduction in the import tariffs. In global affairs, discretion is always wiser than valour.

Aneja was the General Sales Manager, Unilever India and then Managing Director of Unilever Tanzania. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, and the author of books entitled, “Rural Marketing across Countries and “Business Express”. A Management Consultant, he writes from Mumbai, India

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In global affairs, discretion is always wiser than valour, writes RAJENDRA ANEJA As India celebrates its 79th birthday, it has bountiful aspirations. First, it should control its population. India has the
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