SON/NEPC ENHANCE COLLABORATION TO BOOST EXPORT

In an effort to promote and encourage the certification of local products for exports, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has intensified its collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to support the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda.

Speaking at a collaborative meeting to synergize operations towards the development and growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Abuja under the ENABLE 11 project, Director General, SON Mr. Osita Aboloma expressed the willingness and preparedness of SON to work in collaboration with sister Agencies and development partners for a greater impact on the economy and wellbeing of Nigeria.

The DG emphasized the need for SON and NEPC to ensure that the Nation benefits optimally from the Enabled 11 project before it wounds down particularly in ensuring zero reject of the Nigeria’s exports.

Represented by Barrister Richard Agu, Director, DG’s Office, the SON helmsman reiterated that the European Union and other development financiers are more than ever interested in the processes that lead to the certification of Nigeria’s export products.

He disclosed SON’s plan to establish food testing laboratories in the six geopolitical regions to boost the quality of agro and allied products for exports and complement its existing food, chemical technology, electrical/electronics, textile and leather as well as metrology laboratories.

The SON DG, harped on the need for the two Agencies under the Enabled 11 project to synergize their operations; most especially on the development and growth of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and in the overall impact on the economy positively.

In her remarks at the occasion, NEPC representative, Mrs. Evelyn Ifeyinwa Obidike, Deputy Director, Policy & Strategy stated that her Organisation has structured exportable products into batches and is currently focusing on 3 key products with high market demands in 2017.  These according to her, are cashew nuts, cocoa and sesame seeds.

She expressed NEPC’s willingness to collaborate with SON and other development partners to see that awareness is created to enable farmers, processors, middle men and exporters to be trained on quality assurance and standardization to enable them compete favorably in the international market.

Mrs. Adenike Mantey of the Enable 11 project team advocated the need for more collaborative efforts through roundtable discussions and workshops so as to clearly define the status of MSME’s whose products are export-bound for necessary guidance and support.

The Enabled 11 Project is an international non-governmental organization that was formed to aid Governments in developmental projects in the areas of health, economy, agriculture, education and power amongst others.

Source: ISO