The Federal Government’s target to generate about $150bn in the next ten years through its Zero Oil Plan has been boosted with the certification of 101 Small and Medium Enterprises to export non-oil products.
This is just as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, said the federal government is utilizing the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement to deepen its international trading through non-oil exports.
He said this at the interactive dinner for Ambassadors/High Commissioners and development partners in Nigeria in Abuja.
Represented by Mr. Suleiman Audu, Director, Commodities and Export Department in the Ministry, Adebayo said the informal meeting with the diplomatic corps was apt as it will enhance the existing multilateral cordial relationship with Nigeria.
The Minister also described NEPC’s initiative in promoting non-oil exports and increasing the market share as pro-active and urged other agencies under the ministry to emulate the action.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Dr Ezra Yakusak, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to collaborate with key stakeholders in developing and promoting the non-oil export sector.
According to Yakusak, “NEPC cannot effectively discharge its duties without your individual or collective support”.
Describing them as key partners in the implementation of NEPC’s programmes and policies as a trade promotion organisation, Yakusak said that it further informed the resolve to open up channels of interfacing with them on regular basis.
He said that travels by NEPC for international engagements such as trade fairs, trade missions, solo exhibitions, meetings, market research, expos, trade and investment summit could not be possible without the support of embassies especially in visa processing.
