Nigeria lifts ban on Egyptian furniture imports

CAIRO – 18 June 2017: Nigeria agreed to lift the ban on furniture imports from Egypt, Minister of Industry Tarek Kabil announced Sunday.

Egypt has long been negotiating with Nigeria to lift the ban, which was imposed in 2005 as part of a nation ban to import 25 products and items.

“The ban had a negative impact on Egyptian furniture exports, and was against free trade agreements,” Kabil said in the statement.

Furniture exports recorded $107 million in the first four months of 2017, according to the Furniture Export Council.

In the first quarter of this year, furniture exports hiked 7 percent to register $95.4 million, compared to $88.8 million in Q1 2016.

Egypt targets promoting furniture exports. In 2016, it exported $370 million worth of furniture, according to the chamber, and it aims to raise this figure to $450 million in 2017.