Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as big Corporates operating in Ogun State need to move their businesses to the next level by taking advantage of the Agro-Cargo Airport and other infrastructural projects to launch their products into the export market.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola who also doubles as the Chairman, State Committee on Export Promotion (SCEP) made this known in Abeokuta during the SCEP meeting for the first quarter of 2024.
Aikulola stated that the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration through the Agro-Cargo Airport, the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) and the Afrexim African Quality Assurance Center (AQAC) had created the right ambience for conducive exportation of processed goods to other countries adding that entrepreneurs should see the infrastructure as well as the current economic challenges as opportunities to export their goods and earn foreign currency.
“The Agro-Cargo Cirport has made it more easy for anyone who is truly serious about exporting their products. You can harvest vegetables in the morning and before the day is over it will be on the shelves in supermarkets abroad. Even when you need to certify your product the African Quality Assurance Center can help you do that conveniently. Many States do not have a combination of these export-drivers like we have in Ogun State. So it is important that entrepreneurs leverage these infrastructure and venture into exportation,”Aikulola said.
The Permanent Secretary said entrepreneurs need to have a positive mindset towards the efforts of government at helping businesses to expand within and beyond the country’s geographical borders so as not to miss out on different benefits adding that doubting Thomases missed out on grant awards given by the Federal and State governments to businesses during the 2nd Expanded National MSMEs Business Clinics which was recently held in Abeokuta.
Speaking on the efforts of the SCEP at promoting non-oil exports, Aikulola said the Committee has continued to provide the necessary support for the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to boost non-oil exports in the State adding that the Council has been helping different MSMEs export their businesses.
He added that those who truly want to maximize benefits of export business need to register with the NEPC to avoid needless pitfalls and losses which may occur due to product rejection in foreign countries stating that registration with the NEPC is seamless via nepc.gov.ng
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