The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) says it is working to meet the needs of exporters of non-oil products in the country.
The South-East Regional Coordinator, NEPC, Mr Arnold Jackson disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu during a seminar on ‘The Legal Aspect of Packaging for Export’.
Jackson said that packaging was a critical component of the non-oil sector.
He, however, said that lack of knowledge on such issues had been a major issue facing existing and potential exporters in the country, especially, in the South-East region.
The regional coordinator, however , said that such capacity deficit on the part of the exporters needed to be addressed.
Jackson said that the NEPC was responsible for the coordination and harmonisation of export development and promotion activities in the country.
According to him, by taking the lead in all national export programmes, the council regularly interacts with key stakeholders in the non-oil export sector.
He said that the council had continuously worked to provide services that were fit for export purposes.
“In the spirit of meeting the needs of exporters, the council has analysed feedbacks got here over the years and has found that there is a capacity deficit that needs to be addressed on the part of exporters.
In view of the foregoing, the council has organised this highly technical training on ‘The Legal Aspect of Packaging for Export’.
Jackson said that the seminar would explore the correct legal procedures covering packaging for export.
“This programme is specifically organised to address a pertinent issue facing existing and potential exporters in the zone,” Jackson said.
Also, a staff of the NEPC Legal Unit, Mr Ben Acho, said that understanding the legal aspects of packaging and and adherence to specifications were very necessary in export business.
Acho said that lack of knowledge to the issues of such legal issues would affect the acceptance of the product.
He said that it was worrisome that the challenges in respect of products exported from the country was largely due to packaging issues .
“Packaging has been a bearer to Nigerian exporters breaking into the international market. There is need for exporters to understand the legal aspect of packing as well as specifications.
“If you do not do this, it becomes an international issue,” Acho said.
Ikengaonline reports that no fewer than 50 participants from the region attended the workshop.
