Gbolahan Salman Sokoto
The Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Olusegun Awolowo has tasked Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) owners in Sokoto on advantages, benefits of Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) for enhance exports.
Mr Olusegun Awolowo, stated this during a workshop titled ” Export Competency Development Programme to Enhance MSMEs Success in ECOWAS and AfCFTA ” on Tuesday in Sokoto.
Awolowo, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Policy and Strategy, Mr Akintunde Folorunso, underscored the importance of utilizing trade opportunities through AfCFTA for maximum businesses growth.
He said the country’s business treaties which were ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme (ETLS) and AfCFTA had opened up exporters’ doors to the world’s largest market as recognised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
He said ECOWAS trade liberation scheme aimed at expanding the volume of intra-community trade in the sub region through the removal of both tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade on products originating from ECOWAS countries.
The Executive Director added that AfCFTA was an agreement for a single market by accelerating and boosting Africa’s trading position in the global market with the strength of a common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations.
He stressed need for exporters to acquire the necessary right skills to enable them to penetrate global trade professionally.
Awolowo however urged all exporters to diversify their export base by exporting more of value added products so as to penetrate the free trade areas across Africa.
” 55 member nations of Africa Union (AU) established AfCFTA to created single continent wide market for goods and services to promote the movement of capital and natural persons to achieve economically integrated Africa.
” United Nations Economic Commission (UNECA ) estimates that AfCFTA will boost intra Africa tras by 52.3 percent once import duties and non tariff barriers are eliminated ” Awolowo said.
He added that NEPC with it’s mandate on promoting non oil export to ensured that nation’s exporters were fully armed with necessary skills and requirements to be able to operate in market.
Earlier, Mr Olusegun Olutayo, Lead Trade Enablement Officer, said that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed towards equipping MSMEs for production and exportation at all levels.
Olutayo explained that the Export Expansion Facility Programme (EEFP) is another Federal Government economic sustainability plan to stimulate non oil exports, safeguard jobs and project businesses from adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
According to him, National Committee on Export Promotion implement zere oil plan including EEFP where funds to various levels of SMEs.
He said other strategies is establishment of the National Action Committee (NAC) on AfCFTA to among other objectives facilitate stakeholders engagements, trade facilitations and inclusiveness.
Mr Ahmed Yahaya, Trade Promotion Advisor and NEPC Export Assistance Sokoto Office led participants on series of discussions on businesses, packages, registrations and non exports modalities.
He called on all the participants to take full advantage of the training and explore all the available opportunities offered by AfCFTA on their products and services.
