Further, she mentioned that the benefits that could be realised from the establishment of an export trading house include provision of export market channels for products of SMEs who cannot export individually, thereby providing economies of scale in purchasing, marketing and distribution of exportable products.
She, however acknowledged the contributions of MAN Export Group, NEXIM, NACCIMA, ECOBANK, SMEDAN, Federation of Nigerian Exporters, NASSI, ECOMARINE, Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association and Export Logistics Limited and others for the partnership.
Corroborating the NEPC boss, Mr. Romeo Barberopoulos, Chairman of the newly-established Nexpotrade Houses Limited said that this is the first time a real partnership between the public and private sector is created, stating that six private sector exporters association with two major commercial banks and one government-owned export-import promotion bank (NEXIM) are coming together to establish an export house that will serve as a clearing house for formal exports from Nigeria to other African countries.
His words: "In setting up Export Trade Houses (ETH), it is a step towards promoting non-oil export which is the thrust of the present government policy, specifically aimed at achieving 10 per cent share of total exports by 2007 under the NEEDS 2 initiative."
He said that in pursuit of its objective to promote non-oil exports, NEPC the collaborating partner will operate a market development fund to assist exporters in marketing their products.
Barberopoulos stressed that the ETH is like a private and state trading houses set up by many developed and developing countries in the initial phases of their export promotion, but noted that the ETH in Nigeria was established to help market products of small and medium scale exporters who individually have neither the expertise nor the capacity to do it themselves.
Enumerating the objectives of the house, he explained that it will offer services on establisehed terms and conditions which are guided by a 52-page documents for future planning and services to the Nigerian exporters.
The chairman said that the idea of ETH, though to create export links with potential buyers throughout the world, especially Africa will provide a permanent exhibition space to Nigerian exporters in other countries.
Continuing, he pointed out that it will undertake market research, provide marketing and marketing assistance, training, and provide guidelines to exporters.
It will also act as a clearing house for goods exported to ensure that proper safeguards are put in place for proper export standards. It will also act as a warehousing of goods of Nigerian exporters, and as a sale of goods ex-stock, on consignment he explained.
There are indications that the ETH is looking ahead to establish its first trading house in Ghana.
Source: All Africa
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