Over 100 budding exporters in the South-south region began training in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, September 19, 2019, to grasp the critical steps needed to survive the international market.
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) said it was in a bid to lead the oil region away to non-oil products and to boost export. Insiders said the lure of oil revenue has made it difficult for business operators in the region to believe there is any meaningful source of livelihood outside oil. They said easy money creates a nonchalant populace.
The event which is taking place at Aldgate Hotels on Abacha Road in Port Harcourt is said to be organized for newly registered exporters.
The south-south zonal coordinator of NEPC, Joe Itah, said in an opening address that the exercise came at a right time when the federal government is keen on diversification away from oil.
He said exporters must find a way to interact and share ideas and encourage each other to reduce decline syndrome when learning the ropes of the export business. He talked about deepening knowledge base in the export business where much information is needed.
He said; “If potential exporters must effectively take advantage of the opportunities in the international market, they must be well mentored to acquire basic knowledge needed to withstand the challenges associated with international trade.
‘Today’s forum is another in the series of our programmes designed for mentoring newly registered but potential exporters. This clinic is one of our flagship programmes established to build the capacity of young exporters. It has added tremendous value and impact to the Council’s effort at enhancing the contribution of the non-oil exports to our economy, particularly in the area of job creation, entrepreneurship development and inclusiveness in trade”.
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He said the ‘ Zero- to- Export’ scheme of the FG (grooming persons from zero base to export base) which lasts for six weeks is targeted at intensive coaching of budding entrepreneurs.
Resource persons were said to be carefully selected in tandem with the overall purpose of the programme as Itah took them in the technical session on how to be ready to be an exporter. The executive secretary, Institute of Export Management, Ufon Udofia, handled the intricacies in international trade (export business), while export procedures and documentation was handled by Kobo Evelyn, NEPC’S Assistant Chief Trade Promotion Officer for the zone. Eric Alalibo, a seasoned exporter, shared experience with the mentees.
In the technical session, Itah delivered a paper titled: “Being Export Ready: What You Need to Know”, in which he gave what it takes to be ready for the export market.
He said: “Getting ready entails having clear and achievable objectives, having export plan, knowledgeable management team, available products, doing research on its supply base, and knowing the procedures and documentation.
In his own technical submission on ‘Intricacies in international trade, Udofia said the intricacies include brand building, export strategy, and building strong/lasting relationships. According to him, the intricacies include: brand building, export strategy, building strong and lasting relationships.
