Export council , NACCIMA, other stakeholders chart way for non oil exports

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Nnewi Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (NCCIMA) in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion

Council (NEPC), and other stakeholders in the manufacturing, import/export sectors of the economy yesterday, held a business forum where they brainstormed on the benefits of export promotion in the country to reduce dependence on oil revenue.

Tagged "Moving the Economy To the Next Level Through Non Oil Sector", it attracted captains of industries, importers, traders from Nnewi business community. 

The head of products and market division, NEPC, Owerri zonal office, Mr Okorie John Okorie in his keynote address x-rayed the prospects and benefits of exportation of various commodities to other countries of the world where Nigeria had comparative advantage.

 He told the business community that the process was not cumbersome, adding that there were many countries across the globe who needed products from Nigeria which could be exported with substantial profits.

Okorie in his paper titled "Export As a Panacea To Moving The Economy Forward", noted all that it takes to be an exporter in Nigeria. He identified packaging as one of the major challenges to Nigerian exporters, and therefore advised prospective exporters to always make their consignments attractive.

He articulated the benefits of exportation to include foreign exchange earning, business expansion, promotion of made in Nigeria goods, reduction in dependece on oil and creation of employment.

Also a resource person from the Bank of Industry, Mr Adetokunbo Akinsola spoke on how the exporters and other customers could easily have access to loans from the bank. He classified the loans in short, medium and long terms between 12 and 60 months and above.

President of NCCIMA, Mr Humphrey Ngonadi in his comment said one needed not to be a millionaire to start export ventures.

Mr Ngonadi cited China where he said many of the exporters in that country produced their goods in one-room apartment and exported same to other countries of the world including Nigeria. He encouraged his fellow businessmen in Nnewi to take a step.

Engr Oliver Ilozue of the Chicason Group who chaired the event noted that the Nigerian economy needed restructuring as the naira value had continued to drop. He said that the drop in naira value called for diversification of the nation's economy. He also talked about reduction of waste in Nigeria.

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