In order to improve expertise and participation in export trade, government regulatory agencies in the non-oil export sector have trained exporters on the quality requirements of their products.
At the forum organised by Rays of Light International in Lagos, the agencies stressed the importance of obtaining an export licence and other appropriate documents.
The Assistant Chief Trade Promotion Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Joseph Ogungbade, said at the forum that every exporter must have a licence issued by the NEPC.
He advised the exporters to make adequate preparation with the suppliers of their products within the country before receiving orders from the importing country.
This, according to him, will make price negotiation and other processes involved easy.
He added that those with existing contracts would need to renegotiate due to the fluctuating prices in the international market.
Ogungbade said, “When you don’t key in at the beginning of the season, it is difficult to penetrate the market. If you don’t get that timing right, you could get yourself in trouble. If you want to go into cashew, for example, you need to get a prospective buyer before the season begins.”
Speaking on the quality requirements of processed and semi-processed foods for export, the Deputy Director, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the Export Trade Division, Mrs. Comfort Makanjuola, said that laboratory evaluation of the products would identify products fit and unfit for consumption.
According to her, the laboratory evaluation is free and each receiving country has its quality specification, which exporters must know.
Makanjuola said, “Inspection or sampling is essential to ensure that goods for export are prepared and inspected at a certified establishment. The agency insists on laboratory analysis of all regulated products, processed and semi-processed foods before export.”
The Deputy Controller for Export, Apapa, Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Bello Abubakar, said that the NCS was saddled with the responsibility of controlling smuggling and ensuring that the documents of exporters were complete.
Enlightening the participants on the loans available to support non-oil exporters, an official of the Bank of Agriculture, Tokunbo Afolabi, said there were funds for exporters could meet its requirements.
According to him, micro businesses are given a maximum of one year to repay loans while the SMEs have a maximum of five years with an option of moratorium to repay credit facilities.
Commenting on the benefits of export trade to the country, the Chief Executive Officer, 3T Impex Trade Academy, Mr. Bamidele Ayemibo, said that the Nigeria’s trade relations with other countries would improve its Gross Domestic Product.
He added that the export proceeds would strengthen the currency, create jobs and improve the earnings of farmers.
“Exporting our products will expose us to the inexhaustible markets around the world and thereby present unique opportunities for the Small and Medium Enterprises to grow. Massive exportation of Nigerian commodities and products will bring in hard currencies as export proceeds and thus strengthen the naira and other currencies of the world.”
No comments:
Post a Comment