Come and build wine factory in Nigeria, Jamek-Wine CEO, Iweh tells Spain

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*Mr. Iweh and the visiting Economic adviser to Spain, Mr. Ikechukwu…

By Mary BASSEY, Senior Investigator Correspondent, Lagos/

LAGOS- A passionate call has gone to the government of Spain to come to Nigeria and build a wine factory because Nigeria is a major consumer of its wine. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Jamek Wine, Mr. James Iweh who made the call at the occasion of the visit of the Economic and Commercial Advisor to Spain in Nigeria, Mr. Victor Ikechukwu to Jamek Wines, said the time had come for the Spanish government to site a wine factory in the country because there is a good market for it.  “I want to use the opportunity of this visit to my small office to call on the government of Spain to come down to this country and build a factory here, it is cheaper. Nigeria is major consumer of Spanish wines. Forget about the colour of a cat provided it has a mouse.  That is why I like Germany, they don’t think about how big you are, but what can you offer. This office may be small but at least we have a branch here in Okota and Trade fair Complex and another in Imo State.  Eighty per cent of the wines I sell in this office are Spanish wine and they are of premium quality.

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James Iweh who said he had been in the business of importing wines to Nigeria for more than a decade now, however, regrets that Nigerian government policy, the banks and exchange rates are making business activities herculean for importers.  He said, “I am into this business because I care more about the health of Nigerians.  Most Nigerians drink whatever they see in green bottle, I joined this business not to make profit, like if you follow me up in my pages and group chat, I tell people whatever they need to drink.

For example, a Nigeria buys wine to drink; he doesn’t care about the fruits used in producing that wine.  I can tell you that ninety-five percent of the red wine we drink here comes from Spain. So, Spanish wines are doing greatly in Nigeria. So I can tell you that Spain is a lead way when it comes to wine production in Nigeria.  I am into this business so that Nigerians can drink quality wines. The very reason why I went to Spain recently is to tell them to up their game in wine production, produce quality wines for the country. While in Spain I was well treated and apart from Coscharis that does BMW, the best wine you can talk about comes from Spain; I mean first class product.

Speaking about the challenges in importation, a visibly elated James said, “The major challenges are what I have addressed in Germany and Spain- exchange rate. Let me break the news today, hardly you see a Nigeria going to China to seek asylum, nobody goes there. Why, one Chinese Yern is 97 naira For instance let us say Jamek has N12m in his account and need dollars, the practice in sane climes is that the money would be changed and sent to the company’s account that he wants to imports from direct but that is not the practice here in Nigeria, you have to go to the black market to source for dollars.

And in going to black market to source it out, you will find out that it will be very difficult for a common Nigerian to buy the wine when it eventually arrives the country whereas, wine is the next thing after water. That is one challenge. The next challenge is the clearing. You bring a container into the Nigerian wharf, to clear it you are going to borrow money and that you know is very stressful. The next challenge is that the government does not care about trade, about how the individual business man goes about his business. If they do they would be to know what we are going through. The kind of loan Nigerian banks give, I term it as shylock loans. In Germany and other foreign countries, when a bank gives you loan, you are given 6 months within which to start payment; having monitored the business for which the loan was procured; but here in Nigeria, when a bank gives you loan, you are expected to start payment almost immediately. It doesn’t work.

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Earlier, Mr. Victor Ikechukwu, the Economic and Commercial advisor to the government of Spain in Nigeria said their duty basically in that unit was advisory saying, “What we do at the commercial and economic section is that we facilitate business development, bilateral trade; we facilitate the visibility of Spanish product by way of investment, outward investment between Spain and Nigeria and equally connect Spanish companies with the opportunities in Nigeria and also facilitate Nigeria export to Spain on demand by Spanish companies. So basically, the objective is to enable Spanish Companies have visibility in Nigeria as well as West Africa countries. So basically we cover Nigeria and sub-Sahara Africa including Gabon, Togo, Cote De Ivorie, Chad ,Niger, and Benin Republic.

*Mr. Iweh & Ikechukwu…

The business relation between Nigeria and Spain is healthy and impressive. So in fact, it was recorded in 2012 the trade volume records about $20 billion annually and currently there are certain sectors that a lot more viable in terms of wine which is what Jamek Wine is doing. Spain is into wine production, textiles and leather and of course other consumables and all these enjoy robust exportation between Nigeria and Spain. I am here to have an acquaintance with Jamek Wine as well as ascertain the viability of Jamek Wine. With what I have seen, Jamek Wine is doing great and I am certain we are going to do business with Jamek Wine in Nigeria in the very near future.”

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