Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Makurdi Export Assistance Office, of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), on Tuesday, organised a one day training workshop for newly registered exporters in Benue, on how to package their goods for exports and promote non-oil exportation base in Nigeria.
Speaking while declaring the workshop opened in Makurdi, the State capital , the Trade Advisor/Head, NEPC Makurdi Export Assistance Office, Mr Anani Ben-Egon, maintained the workshop became imperative in order to address the issue of poor packaging of goods for exports.
He stressed that poor packages and low production account for greater rejection of Nigeria export goods across the globe.
He equally stated that the program is designed with the primary objective of sensitizing new exporters with the latest development in the Export sector, the International Commercial Terms and Certification Requirement in the Export industry.
Ben-Egon stressed that the program would ensure that Nigeria Exporters are able to meet international standards and thus compete favorably with their counterparts around the world.
He lamented that inadequate information about international commercial terms and requirements for Exports and absence of information about the services and programs of Trade Promotion Institutes like NEPC pose serious challenges to Nigeria Exporters.
According to him, most manufacturing companies are also not aware of the various Federal Government policies targeted at encouraging and rewarding Export oriented companies.
He added that the Tax Relief on Interest Income and the RT200 forex are some of such initiatives of the FGN targeted at companies.
“It is no longer news that recently the vagaries in the international price for oil compounded by the call for gradual shift from the consumption of fossil fuel due to environmental issues has indicated clearly that Nigeria must re-think reliance on oil as a major contributor to the nation’s GDP.
“The way forward is to Export, we must Export if we must survive, it is Export for Survival. NEPC has numerous services which are of benefit to Exporters; including providing market information, training and seminars, trade promotion services, support for women in Export, etc. I therefore call on prospective Exporters to take advantage of such opportunities to promote trade in Nigeria”, Anani Ben-Egon stated.
The representative of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Dana Joseph who addressed the participants, commended NEPC for always engaging exporters with laudable programmes toward enhancing the growth of the non-oil sector.
Mr. Joseph who spoke about the Fidelity Trade Finance and CBN RT200 forex for Non-Oil Export said there is serious migration from mono oil Export to dual Export sector, stressing that CBN is gradually removing it’s hand from financing importation and Exportation of oil.
He advised that Nigeria Exporters must be ready to Export goods and services that can render gains to them and use such proceeds as profits to import similar goods into the country.