The President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) Eze, Sir, Mike Elechi, NPOM, JP, FNIM, DSSRS has charged the newly registered exporters with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), South South Regional Office on the ease of doing business.
He gave the advise during the one day mentorship training on export readiness for registered exporters held at the Chamber Secretariat in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday. Saying that the mentorship training was an added advantage to the newly registered exporters as the knowledge aquired at the one day training will be of great assistance to them in the near future, hence the need to take the lectures serious.
The National Productivity award winner who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Vintage farms and Products Ltd maintained that PHCCIMA as the leader of the Organized Private Sector in Rivers state has a wide range of network to assist business owners in networking of their products, adding that the trade missions desks of the Chamber and embassies will also assist the networking of business and products to countries where the products are directly needed and noted that obtaining membership registration with the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce will do them more good as the e-Certificate of Origin, a statutory requirement for exports will be issued by the Chamber to authenticate the originality of their products.
The PHCCIMA Boss commended the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on the lofty ideas of giving opportunities to business owners in non-oil sector to export their home made products to the competitive international market just as he used the medium to call on Chamber members to make good use of the opportunity to showcase their products to the outside world.
Earlier in his address, the Regional Coordinator of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), South, South Regional Office, Mr. Ganiyu Ahmid Gbolagade who commended the newly registered exporters for venturing into the world of Exportation thereby contributing significantly in the diversification and expansion of the nation’s economy.
He maintained that the mentorship training was designed to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills required to succeed in the competitive world of international trade, just as he hinted that the training could also offer them the privilege of learning from experienced mentors who have been involved in the Export industry for ages.
The NEPC boss further noted that exporting could be challenging with hurdles but noted that determination will lead to overcoming such hurdles as every challenge is an opportunity for growth, adding that the mentorship training will serve as guiding principles and pathway to success.
There were paper presentations on “Export Procedure and Documentation”, Unlocking Export Opportunities”, and NAFDAC Certification: it’s Importance and Processes, the guest lecturers laid emphasis on the need for the new exporters to have their trade marks, follow Customs approved laws, they should always do monitoring and evaluation, the Exporters should ensure that their products meet the standard requirements.
The newly registered Exporters were drawn from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Rivers States.
Other dignitaries present at the workshop were the Deputy Comptroller, Area 1, Nigeria Customs Service represented by Superintendent M. Mohammad, Permanent Secretary Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry represented by the Director of Commerce, Mr. Emmanuel C. Nwankwo, the Managing Director of Dubi Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Moluobi and the Director General of PHCCIMA, Mr. Erasmus Chukunda.
