By Editor
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nonye Ayeni has insisted that the body will expand non-oil export activities in Enugu State.
Ayeni’s made the assertion at a roundtable event with some stakeholders of SMEs, entitled:” Operation Double Your Export,” tagged:” Potential Exporters and Exporters,” on Thursday 18th, April 2024, held in Enugu, Enugu State.
According to the Executive Director/CEO Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nonye Ayeni, said that the exporters’ cluster would effectively bridge the information gap.
Nonye, who was represented by the Regional Coordinator, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, South East Regional Office, Enugu, Mr. Macpherson Fred-Ileogben in a welcome address, said the Roundtable with Stakeholders, SMEs, Potential Exporters and Exporters: Strengthening the Non-oil Export Value Chain in Enugu State with the theme, “Cluster Model as a Strategy for Improving Non-oil Export Performance”, was aimed at achieving sustainable and inclusive grass-roots export development in Enugu State.
It was also revealed that the approach would create an environment for ease of operation and serve as a strategic driver of the council’s plan to achieve the One State One Product (OSOP) initiative whilst keeping an eye on doubling exports in the state.
The event culminated in the official inauguration of the Enugu State Exporters Cluster, with a three-man interim committee constituted to work out the modalities for the cluster to successfully start off under the guidance and direction of the Council.
In his remark, after the inauguration of the exporters’ cluster, the Permanent Secretary, Enugu State Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Mr. Ifeanyi Onah JP who was conferred the patron of the Enugu State Exporters’ Cluster, thanked Nigerian Export Promotion Council for the initiative aimed at improving non-oil export performance in the state.
Commending the interim committee members, he encouraged them to work with a great sense of commitment.
Mr. Onah further urged them to work closely with the Enugu State Committee on Export Promotion (SCEP), and eventually co-opted the exporters’ cluster as member of the SCEP.
The event which had erudite presentations by experts in the non-oil export value chain, had in attendance over one hundred (100) participants including the Permanent Secretary Enugu State Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry.
Others are; Area Controller of Nigeria Customs Service Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi Command, Centre Manager of Technology Incubation Centre Enugu, Ag. Regional Head NEXIM Bank, Dr. Jay Ugwu, Representative of Gojopal Nigeria Ltd. (the Pre-shipment Inspection Agent covering South East), Representatives of Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), SMEDAN, NASSI, Enugu State Young Farmers Association (ENSYFA), SMEs, Potential Exporters, Exporters, Trade Associations and other relevant stakeholders were all present at the event.