Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in collaboration with Nigerian Export Processing Council (NEPC) has carried out a One-Day training programme for 100 entrepreneurs in Enugu State
In his keynote address, the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya, said that the training was aimed at impacting them with entrepreneurship and export facilitation skills.
He said the Federal Government realizes the importance of export economies as well as the strategic role MSMEs play towards job creation; wealth creation; and poverty alleviation.
According to him, export economies across the world now depends on efficient export processing, hence the need to have a holistic approach for management of end-to-end trade transactions.
Represented by, Mr Monday Ewans, Director Export Promotion in the Agency, he revealed that MSMES contributed only 6.21 per cent to Nigeria’s export in 2021.
“This relatively low contribution has exposed the fact that the MSMEs are often faced with lots of challenges that restrict their entry into export market.
“It is in the bid to ensure that MSMEs are strategically positioned to take advantage of international supply and value chains, that the agency developed the MSMEs Export Facilitation Programme,” he said.
The DG further added that, the programme was meant to build their capacity and provide all relevant information to facilitate their effective participation in the export market.
He said that in view of these challenges confronting the MSMEs there was the need to create a business-friendly ecosystem which will enable them to participate in the global value chain on their own.
“Consequently, there is the crucial need for a clear understanding of export process requirements, expectations for e-registration platform and other incentives to encourage exports for MSME products and services,” he said.
Fasanya said that it was in the bid to ensure that MSMEs are strategically positioned to take advantage of international supply and value chains, that prompted the agency to develop the “MSMEs Export Facilitation Programme.”
He outlined the objectives of the programme to include increasing the awareness of MSMEs on the importance of enhancing export.
Also, to improve the capacity of existing and potential small business exporters across the country; to ensure the attainment of minimum national and international standards for assessing national and international markets.
Others are, to ensure excellent branding and packaging of their products to meet national and international standards; to integrate MSMEs into the international value chain.
Fasanya commended the Nigerian Export Processing Council (NEPC) for partnering SMEDAN in the implementation of the programme.
Speaking, the South-East Zonal Coordinator of NEPC, Mr Arnold Jackson, said the council was always ready to partner the agency in its effort to advance export trade in the country.
“Over a period of time we have been talking of oil but the Federal Government of today is talking about the diversification of the economy and what that means is that, we need to diversify the economy to survive as nation.
“And NEPC is in the forefront of realising that objective of ensuring that our export value chain is increased, ” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the entrepreneurs, Mrs Loveline Nnenna thanked the organizers of the event for providing them the opportunity to participate in the programme.
