NEPC trains exporters on contracts legal rules

THE Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has reiterated the need to train Nigerian exporters and other participants on the basics of legal requirements needed for international exports as the country seeks to diversify from an oil based economy.

This was disclosed during a one-day workshop on legal aspect of export contract organised recently by the Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo in Akure, Ondo State.

Awolowo, who was represented by the Legal Adviser/Board Secretary of NEPC, Ezra Yakusak, said the council has initiated special projects across the country, that are targeted towards diversifying the nation’s economy in other not to rely on oil and gas again.

He said the agency was established to promote the export of non-oil products and it has embarked on massive sensitization campaigns and capacity building of exporters in a bid to build a firm and human resources that can penetrate the foreign market.

“The workshop is meant for the exporters to know ‎the rules and regulations in exporting their goods. This workshop would cover salient issues like making an export offer, legal aspects of export contract and essentials of export contracts,” Awolowo said.

The Executive Director stated that the agency has initiated13 national Strategic Export Products which have been identified across the country to replace oil.

He grouped the 13 products under three major sectors namely: Agro Industry, which has palm oil, cocoa, cashew, sugar and Rice. The Mining Related products have cement, iron ore/metals, auto parts/cars and Aluminium and the third: oil and gas industrial products having petroleum products, fertiliser /urea, petrochemical and methanol.

According to him, the workshop was conceived to assist the exporters and prospective exporters who have difficulties in coming to terms with the different procedures and terminologies associated with negotiating an export contract. ‎He said the workshop intended to deal with core issues in export contract.

“Henceforth, the NEPC will specifically promote those 13 products mentioned earlier to the world. Although, we are not neglecting other products, that are also of exportable value.

“In fact, the process has already commenced with cashew. Nigeria for the first time joined the Cashew Alliance, a policy making body for cashew exporters in Africa.

“This is part of NEPC’s strategy to be a dominant player in cashew export market globally. As you can see, cashew is one of the 13 national strategic export products,” he said.