EEN offers Nigerian SMEs opportunity to seal global deals
At a time the Nigerian economy is mired in recession, the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is offering Nigerian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) a chance to make most of business opportunities in Europe and the many parts of the world.
Through the EEN, Nigerian SMEs can have access to the database of all the businesses in Europe, Canada, Argentina, China, India, Singapore, Mexico and Peru, among many other countries, and do business with those in their industries.
To ensure hitch-free operations in Nigeria, the EEN has partnered with the Nigeria-Belgian Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), and the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), with a view to ensuring greater participation of Nigerian SMEs on the platform.
An online platform www.enterprisenigeria.org has been launched to connect Nigerian businesses willing to export or have transactions with companies in Europe and other parts of the world.
The platform contains available opportunities and needs of companies in many parts of the world, providing opportunities to small businesses in Nigeria to meet their needs.
The LCCI and other partners vet Nigerian SMEs willing to tap into this platform, visit them to ensure they truly exist and do the business they claim to do.
“The Enterprise Europe Network Nigeria (EEN Nigeria) offers a wide range of services to assist EU businesses, particularly SMEs, looking to enter the Nigerian market or for those already active in the country,” said Nike Akande, president of the LCCI.
Akande said the network enables SMEs to have access to partner matching services, referral programmes, as well as exclusive events and conferences.
“The benefits of the network are hereby extended to all members and interested public to explore opportunities in Europe for possible trade partnership deals,” she added.
Arum Sukmawanto, coordinator of EEN Nigeria and member of the Nigerian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce, said the EEN is a supporter of small businesses, stressing that the platform advises Nigerian SMEs on how to find partners or how to find the EU-funded projects.
Sukmawanto said the EEN specialises in 17 key sectors and has 4,500 international experts that assist businesses to achieve growth.
Fillipo Amato, head, trade and economic section, EU Delegation to Nigeria, said the EU funds projects to steer development and eradicate poverty.
Amato, who champions the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in Nigeria, said the EU understands that working with governments is not sufficient and, as a result, also partners with the private sector and enterprises to achieve set economic targets.
“This platform will help Nigerian exporters that want to ship their goods to Europe. It will also allow them to have export information. For example, a Nigerian firm exporting cocoa powder will be willing to partner with chocolates companies in Europe,” he said.
Sunnie Omeiza-Michael, senior economist at LCCI, stressed that the chamber will ensure that all Nigerian SMEs on the platform are well vetted.
“We are going to visit the company to ensure it truly exists. We assess, and if the company is good enough, we forward the profile to the company in Europe or any other part of the world that wants to do business with the Nigerian counterpart,” Omeiza-Michael said.