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Tag: NEPC

  • NEPC advocates market penetration of ECOWAS

    The successful hosting of the recently concluded World Economic Forum (WEF) in Abuja has been viewed as testimony of Nigeria’s global economic relevance.

    This was the view expressed by Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, the Director-General of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), at a capacity workshop on strategies for penetrating the West African market which held last Thursday in Lagos.

    According to Awolowo, it is extremely important to improve market access and inroad into the West African market.

    “Providing effective strategies for our exporters to increase their abilities to expand into the West African market,” he said, “is especially important at this moment, as Asian and European giants are also either seeking to make inroad into the market, or to consolidate their dominance in the region.”

    Fifteen West African countries have constituted themselves into a bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Awolowo said “Nigeria with a population of more than 167 million people is home to half of the population of the ECOWAS region.”

    Speaking on the essence of synergy between member countries in terms of trade, Awolowo reiterated that a solo exhibition staged by NEPC at Lome, Togo in August 2013 “is yielding results and must be sustained in order to increase our output to the region.”

    Awolowo said that with over $28 billion coming into Africa, Nigeria stood to gain a lot.

    “The total export of Nigerian non-oil export to West Africa in 2013 was $375, 338, 935,” he said. “This definitely needs to be improved upon.”

  • NEPC boss restates commitment to export promotion

    THE Federal Government remains committed to the promotion of the non-oil export market, the Executive Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun Awolowo has said.

    He gave this assurance at the quarterly meeting of the NEPC/MAN Export Promotion Group, held at MAN House, Ikeja, Lagos, over the weekend.

    According to the NEPC boss, the Federal Government was committed to the growth and development of the non-oil sector considering the impressive strides recorded in the sector in the past year.

    Citing the performance scorecard of the sector in the outgoing year, Awolowo said: “The country recorded a slight increase in the performance of non-oil export in 2013 with a total export value of $2, 970, 107, 354 as against the $2, 561, 243, 645 recorded in 2012.

    “In addition, non-oil export to ECOWAS countries recorded a remarkable improvement by 20 per cent in 2013 with a total export value of $375, 338, 935 as against $312, 477, 744 and $2,76, 527, 169 in 2012 and 2011 respectively,” he said.

    He further revealed that The Netherlands is the number one importer of Nigerian non-oil exports with a total 583, 334, 478 in 2013 with 72 per cent among the top 10 nations that have become the destinations of the Nigerian non-oil exports.”

    Echoing similar sentiments, in his remarks, Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, who was represented by his Special Assistance, Mr. Femi Boyede, said the Federal Government was desirous of growing the non-oil sector of the economy in order to ensure even development in the country.

    Speaking earlier, Chairman, MAN Export Promotion Group, Mr. Tunde Oyelola, in his welcome address highlighted some of the challenges export manufacturers contend with, even as he urged the NEPC to step up efforts to ameliorate the bottlenecks.

    Specifically, the MANEG boss said the suspension of the export expansion grant (EEG) scheme and the non-acceptance of the NDCC for payment of duties was affecting the performance of non-oil exports in the country.

    “As we speak, our members have over N64billion of unused NDCC at hand and over N87billion of NDCC claims for the EEG applications they have submitted to NEPC. This frequent interruption with the use NDCC is more or less like government issuing cheques hat will not be honoured and this situation is gradually eroding the efforts made by exporters, making them lose confidence in government policies and the successes recorded over the years in the non-oil exports.”

  • NEPC, stakeholders to promote service sector for export

    NEPC, stakeholders to promote service sector for export

    The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), in partnership with stakeholders, such as National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is set to promote the services’ sector for export.

    The council said this is in line with the Federal Government’s efforts to boost the non-oil sector base of the national economy.

    Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting on outsourcing at Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, its Director-General, Mr Olusegun Awolowo said for the economy to be diversified, create more employment and generate more wealth in line with Vision 20: 20-20, export of services is good for the country.

    He said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria had requested the Commonwealth Secretariat for assistance to develop a strategy to guide professional services from the country.

    “The services’ export though not fully tapped in Nigeria, is considered as a very potent sector which can boost the non-oil sector base of the national economy. In this regard, four sectors have been selected as priority sectors in the strategy for Nigeria under a medium term plan for implementation.“

    He continued: “The sectors are information and communication Technology (BPO and Software), financial services (Banking and Insurance), educational services (Knowledge-based activities) and entertainment (Movies and Music).”

    He said one of the major challenges of firms is access to information about opportunities in and requirements of foreign markets, both regionally and internationally.

    “To overcome this, the Council will collaborate with the ITC under the Trade in Services Programme (TSP) to enable Nigerian companies to take advantage of ITC’s interventions in the BPO/ITO sub-sectors,” he added.

  • NEPC, SON task exporters on standard

    NEPC, SON task exporters on standard

    The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have impressed on prospective exporters and manufacturers, the need to adhere to standards.

    This, the two bodies stressed, is in line with global best practices.

    They gave this charge at a public forum tagged: ‘Export Business Roundtable’ in Lagos recently.

    Firing the first salvo, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, Executive Secretary/Chief Executive, NEPC, who delivered the keynote address on the occasion, while justifying the need for the interface and discussion session, said: “The Export Business Roundtable is part of our efforts to identify reputable companies, who in spite of the challenges they encounter in exporting their products, continue to make a mark in international markets.”

    Awolowo, who was represented by Mr. Henry Otowo, Director, Product Development Department, NEPC, further maintained that the roundtable “Is also part of our strategy of reiterating the need to diversify our dependence on oil to non-oil in line with Mr. President’s transformation agenda.

    “Interestingly, the roundtable has become necessary as a result of the huge export potentials of Nigeria manufacturing products as revealed by the recent NEPC sponsored exhibitions held in Lome, Togo, Accra, Ghana and Niamey, Niger.

    Reputable companies that had won the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) certification mark with a view to ensuring that they participate in the export business to maximise their potentials.

  • NEPC to increase export of selected produce by 30%

    NEPC to increase export of selected produce by 30%

    The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on expansion of agricultural produce by increasing exportation of selected products by 30 per cent in the next three years.

    NEPC’s Executive Director, Olusegun Awolowo, spoke in Abuja yesterday during the signing of the MoU.

    He said the partnership would aid the increase of exports of selected products by 30 per cent over three years.

    Awolowo said: “NEPC will develop export development strategies for priority value chains. Through jointly sponsored training, under Nigeria Expanded Trade and Transport (NEXTT), export-ready firms will be supported to exploit export opportunities in targeted value chains.

    “The partnership will also provide technical and capacity building support to a network of business development service providers serving non-oil export firms.

     

    “The idea is to create a synergy between USAID and NEPC. There are several formal trading links within the Economic of West African States (ECOWAS) region which have not been captured; and the government is not just losing in finance but in data capturing.”

    The USAID Nigerian Country Director Mr Michael Harvey said the agency shared the same commitment with the NEPC to see that Nigeria advance in the diversification of its non-oil economy and take advantage of the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA).

     

  • NEXIM partners NEPC on export promotion

    The newly appointed Executive Director/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, has paid a courtesy call to the Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) at the headquarters of the Bank in Abuja, to discuss areas of possible collaboration and synergy.

    Welcoming his counterpart to the government trace policy bank, Mr. Orya thanked Mr. Awolowo and his team for taking the initial collaborative step, noting that the NEPC and NEXIM Bank were the principal agencies of government responsible for the promotion of non-oil exports

    The NEXIM MD provided the NEPC team with a snapshot of NEXIM Bank’s mandate, mission and vision, stating that the institution was established by Act 38 of 1991 as an Export Credit Agency with the broad mandate to promote the diversification of the Nigerian economy away from oil and deepening the external sector.

    Mr. Orya informed his counterpart that NEXIM is facilitating the Sealink Project, which will culminate in the establishment of a shipping company to own and operate ocean-going vessels to boost trade within the West and Central Africa.

    Lauding the phenomenal successes of the NEXIM Bank Corporate Transformation initiative, Mr. Awolowo informed the NEXIM boss that NEPC is also working on human resource realignment to drive export growth, adding that the objective of the new management was to increase the level of non-oil exports by at least 30% in the next four years.

     

  • Export Promotion Council for solo exhibition in Togo

    Export Promotion Council for solo exhibition in Togo

    Nigerian manufacturers have been invited by the Republic of Togo for a solo exhibition of Nigeria’s manufactured goods.

    Speaking during a press briefing in Lagos, the Director Trade Information Department of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), who represented Mr. Aliyu Lawal, the Executive Director/ CEO of NEPC, David Adulugba, said the exhibition would come up in Lome, Togo’s capital city, between July 27 and August 10, 2013.

    According to him, the invitation of Nigeria for the solo trade exhibition in Lome was facilitated by the splendid performance of the manufactured goods from Nigeria during the 10th Lome International Trade fair in December 2012 in Lome.

    “NEPC took the decision to organise the exhibition to boost the penetration and acceptance of Nigerian products in the entire ECOWAS, after her participation in the 10th Lome International Trade fair, December 2012, where the Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Amabassador Sunday Adoli, reasoned that the Republic of Togo would make a perfect trade hub for the distribution of Nigerian manufactured goods with ECOWAS countries,” Lawal said.

    The director Trade Information revealed that despite the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the principle of free trade movement of persons among member-states, the level of trade among member-states within the region is insignificant.

    He said that despite Nigeria’s presence in many West African countries, “It has not been able to penetrate Francophone countries because they mostly import from France. He therefore said that “the timely decision to stage the exhibition became more imperative considering the strategic location to Togo. More so, the event would assist to curb the large spate of informal trade between the two countries.”

    Lawal said the planned solo exhibition is an important window towards making non- oil a significant contributor to the Nigerian GDP.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Director-General of NACCIMA, Dr. John Isemede, took time to explain to the would-be participants what would be required of them during the exhibition. He reiterated that the best of the Nigerian goods would be taken to the event.

    The National Vice President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, took time to mobilise women for the solo exhibition, urging them to be part of the event in Lome, Togo.

  • Export Promotion Council for solo exhibition in Togo

    Nigerian manufacturers have been invited by the Republic of Togo for a solo exhibition of Nigeria’s manufactured goods.
    Speaking during a press briefing in Lagos, the Director Trade Information Department of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council  (NEPC), who represented Mr. Aliyu Lawal, the Executive Director/ CEO of NEPC, David Adulugba, said the exhibition would come up in Lome, Togo’s capital city, between July 27 and August 10, 2013.
    According to him,  the invitation of Nigeria for the solo trade exhibition in Lome was facilitated by the splendid performance of the manufactured goods from Nigeria during the 10th Lome International Trade fair in December 2012 in Lome.
    “NEPC took the decision to organise the exhibition to boost the penetration and acceptance of Nigerian products in the entire ECOWAS, after her participation in the 10th Lome International Trade fair, December 2012, where the Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Amabassador Sunday Adoli, reasoned that the Republic of Togo would make a perfect trade hub for the distribution of Nigerian manufactured goods with ECOWAS countries,” Lawal said.
    The director Trade Information revealed that despite the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the principle of free trade movement of persons among member-states,  the level of trade among member-states within the region is insignificant.
    He said that despite Nigeria’s presence in many West African countries, “It has not been able to penetrate Francophone countries because they mostly import from France. He therefore said that “the timely decision to stage the exhibition became more imperative considering the strategic location to Togo. More so, the event would assist to curb the large spate of informal trade between the two countries.”
    Lawal said the planned solo exhibition is an important window towards making non- oil a significant contributor to the Nigerian GDP.
    Speaking at the occasion, the Director-General of NACCIMA,  Dr. John Isemede, took time to explain to the would-be participants what would be required of them during the exhibition. He reiterated that the best of the Nigerian  goods would be taken to the event.
    The National Vice President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce,  Mines and Agriculture, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, took time to mobilise women for the solo exhibition, urging them to be part of the event in Lome, Togo.

  • Experts express worry over non-documentation of export

    Experts express worry over non-documentation of export

    The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has expressed worry at the quantum of goods leaving the country annually without documentation.

    In order to address this situation, the council has launched the e-registration website and e-registration booklet to reduce the volume of consignment leaving the country through informal exports.

    The Executive Director, NEPC, David Adulugba disclosed this during the launching in Abuja, stating that the quantum of goods leaving the country annually without documentation was worrisome.

    He said, “The launch of the site – www.nepc.gov.ng – and the booklet was vital to the growth of the non-oil export sector. The initiatives will enhance the process of registering products meant for export as well as assist in capturing data of the informal trade between Nigeria and other countries.

    “Findings by the agency revealed that there were 48 loading points where goods were exported to other countries informally in Nigeria. More than three quarters of the goods leaving the country were informal, the agency is ready to tackle the problem promptly.

    “Normalising all informal exports would help to grow the economy. The council has also established e-registration office at the headquarters to change the usual bureaucratic approach in government business as well as help in registering exporters and bringing the much-needed foreign direct investment to the country.”

    He added that the initiatives will promote the council’s activities in all the available social network sites on the Internet, as the features of the e-registration include development of a database system for potential exporters to upload all the necessary and required documents on registration for the purpose of verification.

    Mr Robert Onya, Managing Director, Nigerian Export and Import (NEXIM) Bank, urged exporters to explore the opportunity provided by the bank to boost their activities, assuring that the bank is ready to go into partnership with stakeholders to make sure non-oil export sector takes its rightful position in the developed economy.

  • ‘Nigeria consumes 100m 50kg bags of rice’

    ‘Nigeria consumes 100m 50kg bags of rice’

    FIVE million metric tons of rice, amounting to about 100 million 50kg bags of rice, is consumed yearly in the country, figures from the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) have indicated.

    The figures available to The Nation showed that 2.1 million metric tons of rice is imported into the country yearly. This amounts to 42 million 50 kg bags of rice worth N360 billion.

    It is, however, doubtful if the balance is produced in the country. However, the product is still smuggled in daily, through the borders, especially at Seme.

    Cheap rice imports have continued to take a larger share of the market, while local variants struggle.

    This cheapness of imported rice is, in spite of the recent 10 per cent import duty and 100 per cent levy imposed on it by the Federal Government, in January. The price of imported rice is still lower than the local one, due to the adequate infrastructure for farmers in the foreign rice producing countries, and subsidies on rice production by foreign governments.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, said Nigeria’s rice consumption is projected to reach 35 million tonnes by 2050, from five million tonnes, rising at the rate of seven per cent yearly.

    He said rice production calls for immediate strategic approach, which entails raising rice yield, without which the country will be unable to meet the future rice needs in the next 35 years.

    He said efforts were being made under the Agricultural Transformation Action plan (ATAP) to reduce importation to zero this year and achieve 2.1 million metric tonnes local production over the next 12 months.

    He added that as part of its agricultural sector transformation strategy, which is hoped would drive diversification of the economy from oil and particularly ensure the nation’s food security, the government has planned to ensure that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in rice production by 2015.