NEPC intensifies efforts to boost export capacity of SMEs

IN a bid to boost export capacity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria as a way of increasing the revenue that comes from the non-oil sector, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is collaborating with the Centre for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CPIDC) Netherlands, to train export coaches in Nigeria.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos at a five-day workshop organised by CPIDC to the train staffs of NEPC and some selected companies that are in the production of sesame seed, cashew nut and cocoan, the Executive Director of NEPC, Mr Olusegun Awolowo stated that the council’s collaboration with CBI is to enhance knowledge and implement capacity building as an outcome of needs analysis.

He noted that within the framework of this collaboration, NEPC has decided to focus on three products viz sesame seed, cocoa and cashew nut as pilot products, with the view of applying same strategies and processes in developing other products.

Awolowo pointed out that the initiative is part of an effort to bring about economic empowerment of Nigerians, with the aim of enabling Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) export development to the European Union (EU) market.

He stated that empirical studies has shown that key challenges to export, both to the EU, African markets and rest of world are mainly the lack of knowledge, experience and exposure regarding export marketing and management among SME exporters and export regulatory agencies.

According to him “The council within this collaboration with CBI supports efforts to improve Market Information Systems (MIS), communications skills, quality management, trust, awareness and cooperation between agencies.”

Awolowo noted that the agricultural products are pilot selections in the capacity building process for non-oil export development. “We are optimistic to apply and transfer basic methodologies learnt from different product sectors.”

Awolowo explained that given the expectation of stakeholders on the possibility of turning the economy of Nigeria around using the Zero Oil Plan (ZOP), the training of the council’s staff as export coaches and officials demonstrate resolute commitment to knowledge and market intelligence as an effective mechanism to drive the ZOP.

Responding, James Fitzpatrick, representing CBI, disclosed that Nigeria was chosen as a priority country for the Netherlands in view of the business and trade relations of the two countries and in line with the ideals of ZOP, apart from Nigeria’s huge market size and rich natural resources.

He stated that the main objective is to “train NEPC coaches and a group of objectively selected companies drawn from the sesame seed, cocoa and cashew sub-sectors who are focused to improve the contribution of non-oil export sector to the economy of Nigeria.”