The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in collaboration with the Kaduna Chamber of commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA) has organised a sensitisation workshop for exporters on the imperative of trade agreements for market access in international trade relations.
The Kaduna NEPC Smart Office Coordinator, Alhaji Kasim Yahaya, said the workshop was organised to sensitise and create awareness on trade advantages to exporters of goods, as well as enormous benefits to the state’s economy, while delivering a presentation on the ‘ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.’
He noted that the workshop was also aimed at enlightening exporters on the challenge of market access through trade agreement windows.
Yahaya further stated that Nigeria has major trade agreements under African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that has been in existence since May 2002 , lasting up to the end of 2025.
According to him, exporters could also leverage on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), established in 1979 and the African continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreements, established in 2018 for market access.
The Coordinator however said, the participants will gain more knowledge at the end of the workshop especially in the area of exports and trade agreements in international market.
He reiterated the council’s commitment to create a world market for Nigerian non-oil export products.
Some producers and exporters who spoke at the workshop urged the NEPC and other relevant stakeholders in the export sector to provide enabling environment for exporters to thrive in their businesses.
They urged the government to minimise export costs and establish guidelines for the business.
