Currency Swap: CBN moves to incentivize importers using renminbi

By Chioma Obinagwam

The Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) has said it will give incentives to importers, industrialists and businesses who import equipments, machinery and goods from China, using Reminbi Chinese currency instead of the dollar.

This was disclosed at the Bankers’ Committee meeting held in Lagos on Thursday.

The CBN, Nigeria’s apex bank, stated that it in line with its efforts towards encouraging the currency swap deal in addition to strengthening the country’s reserves.

Managing Director of Keystone Bank, Obeahon Ohiwarie said: “….The idea is to start to encourage importers to receive invoices in Reminbi instead of U.S dollars.
One of the incentives will be that a percentage spread will be given to any importer that is bringing in Reminbi invoice for settlement, instead of bringing in dollar invoice.”

“So that when you look at the overall cost in terms of naira if you bring Reminbi invoice, it’s going to be cheaper for the importer in coming to the CBN to get foreign currency, which in this case will be Reminbi,” he added.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

It is important to state that as part of efforts to facilitate bilateral trade between Nigeria and China as well as strengthen Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange(Forex) reserves, the CBN officially signed the aforementioned Currency Swap Agreement with the People’s Bank of China(PBoC) on Friday April 27, 2018.

The CBN, however, encouraged businesses, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who rely on imports from China for their operations to tap into the deal, which has up to 16 billion Reminbi ($2.5bn) available for their use.
Currently, the CBN noted, Nigeria has $48 billion as its Forex Reserve.

Corroborating, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of StanbicIBTC bank, Demola Sogunle said: “You know, anytime invoices are obtained in dollars for imports that is going to come from China for instance, there is usually at least a 10 per cent mark up. So that 10 per cent is at a minimum.”

This implies that importers pay an extra 10 per cent or more on their imports when it is done in dollar term.

Sogunle further disclosed that the Committee mandated banks to strengthen their existing Security Operation Center because of the growing threats of cyber attacks on companies and organizations worldwide.

Photo Caption: CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

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