Post by Trade facilitator on Dec 18, 2021 10:00:42 GMT 1
Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Certifies 36 SME Exporters To Boost Non-Oil Exports – Moves To Minimize Products Rejection By Foreign Partners
Mr. Ezra Yakusak, the Executive Director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, (NEPC) has revealed that thirty-six (36) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) exporters had been certified further to enhance the country’s non-oil exports potential.
The Executive Director also said that the council is currently working tirelessly to address the issue of frequent rejection of Nigerian exports commodities especially by the European Union (EU) among others.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Nigerian economy was largely driven by the non-oil sector in the third quarter of the year 2021 (Q3 2021). The report showed that the non-oil sector accounted for 92.51% of the GDP of the nation.
Incidentally, the oil sector of the economy contributed only about 7.49 per cent to the growth of the national GDP in the same period under consideration.
During the brief ceremony, when addressing the beneficiaries of the certification in Abuja, Mr. Yakusak said that the major objective of the certification project was to encourage value addition against the export of raw agricultural produce from the country.
The DG pointed out to the beneficiaries and the public that the certification would enable the concerned SMEs to compete favorably with other companies in the lucrative international markets while getting premium pricing for their products.
He said “It will also facilitate SMEs’ access to certified niche of non-oil international markets and to compete favourably in the lucrative international markets while getting premium pricing for their products.
“You are all aware that penetrating international markets for processed and value-added products, particularly food items require additional voluntary certification to enable the products access overseas markets.”
The Director General noted particularly that accessing global export markets had become stricter and more difficult due to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, which requires tougher inspection regimes at border control points in the importing countries.
“Non-mandatory certifications (e.g. ISO, HACCP, GMP, etc.) are global certifications, trusted by consumers and end-users of products and services, and are attained based on the reputation of the certifying bodies.”
The Director General also said that the existing Export Expansion Facility (EEF) programme would be leveraged for the certification of more SME exporters in preparation for the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).
He also reiterated that the objective of the programme was to encourage value addition against the export of raw agricultural produce.
Mr. Yakusak said that the main effort of the council was to curb the high rate of rejection of the country’s export products, and to build the capacity of the exporters. To achieve this, it had engaged a reputable certification expert, based in Bangalore India, to handle certification awareness training to manufacturers and producers.
He said “The India based company guides companies’ and organizations’ certification for ISO, CE, FSMS and other international certifications and have successfully executed over 3, 000 projects across 20 countries.
“In the same vein, the council also collaborated with the German Cooperation International (GIZ) in implementing the Nigeria Competiveness Project (NICOP) to support key value chains in Nigeria by promoting structural transformation and improving access to regional and international markets through certification in order to conform with pre-requisite international food safety standards in alignment with benchmarked global standard and value addition. The certifications under this collaboration include Hazard Analysis and Critical Control points (HACCP), ISO 22000:2018 and ISO 9000:2015.”
In his own contribution, the NEPC Director, Product Development, Mr. Williams Ezeagu, said the council adopted the ‘Go Global, ‘Go For Certification’ to ensure that the SMEs compete favourably in the international markets.
The Director of Product Development explained that the initiative, including the NICOP programme had a total of 40 SME exporters that benefited from the certification projects including 26 that will be awarded HACCP, Halal, USFDA, and ISO 22000 certifications.
Our major interest in this is this, how many of our farmers and exporters are aware of these programmes going on in the country? Please don’t take it as mere rhetoric, a lot of activities to ensure proper pricing of our agricultural produce and value chains are going on in the country now. Let us endeavour to take advantage of all the relevant programmes.
Don’t forget to contact the admin of this forum for information to kick-start your 2022 cashew export season. We have high level international buyers that are ready to buy off your cashew for the new season starting January 2022. Please start early by getting your contracts and good pricing.
Mr. Ezra Yakusak, the Executive Director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, (NEPC) has revealed that thirty-six (36) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) exporters had been certified further to enhance the country’s non-oil exports potential.
The Executive Director also said that the council is currently working tirelessly to address the issue of frequent rejection of Nigerian exports commodities especially by the European Union (EU) among others.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Nigerian economy was largely driven by the non-oil sector in the third quarter of the year 2021 (Q3 2021). The report showed that the non-oil sector accounted for 92.51% of the GDP of the nation.
Incidentally, the oil sector of the economy contributed only about 7.49 per cent to the growth of the national GDP in the same period under consideration.
During the brief ceremony, when addressing the beneficiaries of the certification in Abuja, Mr. Yakusak said that the major objective of the certification project was to encourage value addition against the export of raw agricultural produce from the country.
The DG pointed out to the beneficiaries and the public that the certification would enable the concerned SMEs to compete favorably with other companies in the lucrative international markets while getting premium pricing for their products.
He said “It will also facilitate SMEs’ access to certified niche of non-oil international markets and to compete favourably in the lucrative international markets while getting premium pricing for their products.
“You are all aware that penetrating international markets for processed and value-added products, particularly food items require additional voluntary certification to enable the products access overseas markets.”
The Director General noted particularly that accessing global export markets had become stricter and more difficult due to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, which requires tougher inspection regimes at border control points in the importing countries.
“Non-mandatory certifications (e.g. ISO, HACCP, GMP, etc.) are global certifications, trusted by consumers and end-users of products and services, and are attained based on the reputation of the certifying bodies.”
The Director General also said that the existing Export Expansion Facility (EEF) programme would be leveraged for the certification of more SME exporters in preparation for the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).
He also reiterated that the objective of the programme was to encourage value addition against the export of raw agricultural produce.
Mr. Yakusak said that the main effort of the council was to curb the high rate of rejection of the country’s export products, and to build the capacity of the exporters. To achieve this, it had engaged a reputable certification expert, based in Bangalore India, to handle certification awareness training to manufacturers and producers.
He said “The India based company guides companies’ and organizations’ certification for ISO, CE, FSMS and other international certifications and have successfully executed over 3, 000 projects across 20 countries.
“In the same vein, the council also collaborated with the German Cooperation International (GIZ) in implementing the Nigeria Competiveness Project (NICOP) to support key value chains in Nigeria by promoting structural transformation and improving access to regional and international markets through certification in order to conform with pre-requisite international food safety standards in alignment with benchmarked global standard and value addition. The certifications under this collaboration include Hazard Analysis and Critical Control points (HACCP), ISO 22000:2018 and ISO 9000:2015.”
In his own contribution, the NEPC Director, Product Development, Mr. Williams Ezeagu, said the council adopted the ‘Go Global, ‘Go For Certification’ to ensure that the SMEs compete favourably in the international markets.
The Director of Product Development explained that the initiative, including the NICOP programme had a total of 40 SME exporters that benefited from the certification projects including 26 that will be awarded HACCP, Halal, USFDA, and ISO 22000 certifications.
Our major interest in this is this, how many of our farmers and exporters are aware of these programmes going on in the country? Please don’t take it as mere rhetoric, a lot of activities to ensure proper pricing of our agricultural produce and value chains are going on in the country now. Let us endeavour to take advantage of all the relevant programmes.
Don’t forget to contact the admin of this forum for information to kick-start your 2022 cashew export season. We have high level international buyers that are ready to buy off your cashew for the new season starting January 2022. Please start early by getting your contracts and good pricing.
