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The Norwegian Seafood Council has commended the federal government of Nigeria for delisting stockfish on the list not valid for the foreign exchange window.
The council made the commendation at the one-way interactive workshop with stakeholders and regulators in the seafood sector on Wednesday in Lagos.
The Director of Africa Norwegian Seafood Council, Trond Kostweit, said the delisting would boost the Nigerian stockfish sector.
Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria Svein Bæra, on his part, said Norway is committed to fostering the century-old trade relationship between Nigeria and Norway.
Fisheries consultant, the Norwegian Seafood Council, Abbey Cheke, also emphasised the council’s continuous support to the Nigerian aquaculture sector.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Abubakar Kyari, represented by the Deputy Director Fisheries Department, Philip Abah, commended the council for it’s contribution to the growth of the Nigerian aquaculture sector.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in 2015, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) restricted the availability of foreign exchange to the importation of 43 items which could be locally produced within the country.
According to the report, Norwegian stockfish was part of the 43 items banned in 2015 from accessing forex.
In October 2023 however, the CBN announced the restoration of the 43 items prohibited from access to the foreign exchange window in 2015.