NEPC intensifies plans to widen market for manufacturers

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is intensifying plans to widen the market base of local manufacturers, especially in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The council also stresses the need for Nigerian exporters to pay more emphasis on value-adding/manufactured commodities, rather than raw materials, while also calling for better product packaging.

Olusegun Awolowo, executive director, CEO, NEPC, said this during a workshop on ‘Strategies for Penetrating West African Market’ held last Thursday in Lagos.

“In August 2013, the NEPC successfully organised a Solo Exhibition that has been adjudged by policy analysts as fundamental trade tool that can effectively promote inter-regional trade within ECOWAS region. The idea of the Solo Exhibition was to make Lome a trade hub for all products from Nigeria to other West African countries,’’ he said.

“This strategy is yielding results and must be sustained in order to increase our output to the region. Our activities which provides effective strategies for exporters to increase their abilities to expand into the West African market is especially important at this moment when Asian and European giants are also either seeking to make inroad into the market or to consolidate their dominance in the region,’’ he said. There is need to add value to export commodities, he said, stressing that $375.34 million worth of non-oil exports to the region need to be improved upon.

According to him, exporters must embrace better packaging strategies, while they must shun the use of fake documents that often get them into trouble in other countries. He cited the case of a flower exporter, who shipped out 100 containers to Mexico with fake documents, stating that his case would have been worsened if not for NEPC’s intervention.

A.A Lawal, who made a presentation on strategies and challenges on penetrating the ECOWAS market, said for Nigerian exporters to thrive in other markets, there must be production and consistency in product quality, use of scanning machines for examination of cargoes, market research, facilitation of $1.1 billion West African gas pipeline covering 1000km onshore and offshore, and dealing with supply-side constraints, among others.

Kola Awe, CEO, Export Logistics International Limited, said for Nigerian exporters to do better, they must understand transport logistics, while the 6000km road between Lagos and Tanzania should be fast-tracked.

Jon Isemede, director-general, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, said customs must improve on documentation, while exporters must improve research and development.