NEPC tasks exporters on targeting specific markets

REGIONAL Coordinator, South West, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, (NEPC), Mr Babatunde Faleke has harped on the need for exporters to understand the basics of the exporting business, especially ensuring that their exports are targeted at specific markets.

Speaking at a meeting of stakeholders in the export business, in Ibadan, Faleke listed other imperatives for exporters as the need to improve quality and packaging, standardize produce, have a grasp of documentation and embrace pre-shipment and post-shipment incentives.

He, however, said the nation faced a challenge of the inadequate quantity of agricultural commodities and manufactured goods for exports, hence noted the need for farmers to scale up production and cultivate the nation’s free land.

He said the country must focus on exporting products it had a comparative advantage in like rice, shea nuts, shea butter, cocoa, yam, melon, cassava and cashew.

“What we are struggling with is quantity.

We need to scale up production, improve the quantity, scale up cultivation. Free land should be cultivated. We are not exporting enough yet we have several products we can export.

For example, we should export rice, shea butter. Exporters must understand export basics such as targeting their products to a particular market,” Faleke said.

Similarly, Trade Promotion Advisor, NEPC, Ibadan Smart Office, Mr Joseph Ogungbade, urged exporters to be up to date with the export prohibition list so as not to run foul of acceptable export standards.

The forum also saw NEPC lecture exporters on how they could use the social media to access international markets through digital marketing.

Exporters were further admonished to use digital channels to engage ideal customers to generate loyalty and consistent patronage of their products and services.

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In her remarks, Oyo Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperatives, Mrs Taibat Adeyemi-Agaba emphasized the need for all Nigerians to optimize their capabilities to cultivate the land and manufacture various products for export.

She avowed the commitment of the state government to promoting the exportation of products which it had the comparative advantage in like Aso Oke, Cashew, Yam, Shea butter.

Speaking, Deputy Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service, Adewuyi Abiola called for a simplification of the processes involved in export, though he noted that standardization was also important.

He further advocated collaboration among agencies involved in the export business so as to improve the nation’s portfolio.