NEPC urges Aba entrepreneurs to look towards export to expand their businesses

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) the country’s non-oil export promotion outfit, has advised entrepreneurs in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, to look towards export to boost their businesses.
Amaechi Okechukwu, of the product and market division of the NEPC, Aba Smart Office, gave this advice at a-day enlightenment seminar on “Export potentials of Made-in-Aba products”, organized by the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), South-East Zone, in collaboration with the Abia Shippers Association (ASA), held recently in Aba.
Okechukwu, while delivering a paper titled “Harnessing export potentials and boosting the economic base of entrepreneurs” at the seminar, observed that the non-oil sector will contribute towards the aspiration of the Federal Government in making the country among the 20 strongest economies in the world by year 2020, if well harnessed.
He appealed to the business community in Aba, especially manufacturers of shoes, belts, bags and trunk box makers, to take advantage of the presence of the NEPC Smart office in the State, to expand their businesses, through export.
The Aba smart office of the NEPC, is working towards stopping informal trade at the Aba finished leather cluster.
Aba leather cluster exports finished leather goods to neighbouring West and Central African countries; however their transactions have been done unofficially, denying them export incentives.
Okechukwu stated that the non-oil export sector of the economy is vital to the generation of foreign exchange, income, employment and poverty reduction, stressing that the sector has untapped potentials, which if adequately harnessed, would boost the economic base of entrepreneurs and the nation at large.
According to him, “Export trade boosts the economy, especially where it outstrips imports. A country’s gross domestic product is powerfully positioned, if it encourages exportation of its products and services against importation”.
He stated that Government takes deliberate steps to promote export, particularly non-oil sector, which according to him, makes significant contribution to the Nation’s GDP.
He explained that Nigeria remains one of the largest markets in Africa, a gateway to the rest of West Africa countries.
“Nigeria presents enormous export opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, handcraft, manufactured products and services.
“These opportunities are further supported by government policies and programmes aimed at diversifying the economy. Some of these programmes include offering help in product and market development to intended and existing exporters, pre-shipment and post shipment financing, training, payment guaranty scheme, among others.
“This strategy for economic development stresses expanding exports, by assisting exporters using export subsidies and incentives, “he said.
He explained further that the Federal Government In recognition of the importance of export in the development of export in the development of the economy, established the Nigerian export promotion council, through the NEPC with the mission to spearhead the diversification of the economy, by expanding and increasing non-oil exports for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

 

GODFREY OFURUM, Aba