The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Processing Council (NEPC), organised an export facilitation programme for 100 Entrepreneurs in Enugu.
The Director General, Mr Olawale Fasanya, reiterated the need for small and medium scale businesses to tap into the export market, emphasizing the need for this at the programme in Enugu on Thursday.
He said the programme, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Processing Council (NEPC), was to boost MSMEs contributiins to Nigeria’s export earnings.
Represented by Mr Monday Ewans, Director Export Promotion, Fasanya said that MSMEs contributed only 6.21 per cent to Nigeria’s export earning in 2021.
The D-G said that global export economies relied on efficient export processing and holistic approach in managing end-to-end trade transactions.
He stated that MSMEs were frequently faced with challenges that barred their entry into the export market.
“With this realisation, it is important for MSMEs to take advantage of the international supply and value chains developed by SMEDAN.
“So this programme is intended to build their capacities and prepare them for effective participation in the export market,” he said.
Fasanya revealed thaty that so far, the programme had been implemented in 22 states with no fewer than 40,000 entrepreneurs already trained.
Also, NEPC South-East Zonal Coordinator, Mr Arnold Jackson, expressed the council’s dedication towards assisting MSME operators to advance export trade in the country.
“This programme is very critical to their participation in the export market. They need to make good use of it.
”They require skills in product packaging and marketing strategies to effectively harness opportunities in the export market,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the entrepreneurs, Mrs Loveline Nnenna described the programne as enriching and well-intended.(NAN)
