By Merit Ibe
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has said the “Operation Double Your Export” program, focuses on boosting the volume and value of Made-in-Nigeria products.
Executive Director of NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, made the remark during a meeting with the Director, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, in Abuja, where he said the emphasis is on developing and promoting 20 key products with global market potential, targeting 15 markets. “The objective is to facilitate exports by partnering with companies capable of global competitiveness.”
Ayeni reiterated the importance of strategic collaboration to enhance export for Nigerian Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs), adding that such a move will streamline trade facilitation and enhance export trade in the country.
Odii of SMEDAN stressed the critical role of capacity building in export business, particularly for the 96 per cent of businesses operating as SMEs. “With offices across the 36 states, SMEDAN aims to complement NEPC’s efforts, aligning with the One State One Product (OSOP) initiative and proposing a joint capacity-building program,” Ayeni said.
Odii further advocated for reducing trade barriers, stimulating market access and encouraging special funding of SMEs by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost exports within the regional bloc.