BANYO TEMITAYO
THE PDF Bridge Programme has commenced its on-line Non-oil Exporters roundtable on Export Expansion Grant (EEG).
The roundtable is expected to be evidence-based with conversations bordering on key findings and recommendations from the recently concluded study on ‘Analysis and Impact of the Export Expansion Grant on Export Potentials, Market Access and Export Competitiveness in Nigeria’.
The study analysed how the implementation of EEG since its inception had adequately stimulated the growth of non-oil export in Nigeria.
The event, holding today (Tuesday), drew participants from all over the globe, especially key stakeholders in the Nigerian export market, including the Network of Practicing Non-oil Exporters of Nigeria (NPNEN), Trade Associations, Regulatory agencies and export facilitating agencies, development partners and other key stakeholders.
PDF-Bridge Programme Manager, Titilola Akindeinde, said, “The Export Expansion Grant (EEG) was set up to alleviate the financial burden on non-oil exporters thereby stimulating non-oil exports in Nigeria.
“It is unfortunate that non-oil exporters are being owed billions of naira in unpaid claims, having engaged in exports on the promise of the EEG.”
PDF Bridge had, through its predecessor programme, commissioned a study to look into some of the issues affecting the efficient implementation of the EEG while making recommendations on how these might be addressed.
The study was part of the programme’s contributions towards the Government of Nigeria’s priority areas on reforming the business environment to enable small and medium-sized enterprises to thrive sustainably, a statement by the organisers said.
According to them, this roundtable, themed, “Analysis and Impact of Export Expansion Grant on Export Potential, Market Access and Export Competitiveness in Nigeria”, will critically dissect the issues highlighted in the study with a view to developing an action plan that will ensure adequate incentivisation of export through a reformed EEG that works for non-oil exporters.
“We are looking forward to having robust discussions with the invited participants drawn from both the private and public sectors,” they said.
The EEG and similar support schemes are created to make exports of Nigerian origin to withstand intense competition from the global market. The business environment in Nigeria makes production and export from the country naturally uncompetitive.
Olufemi Boyede, a Certified International Trade Professional said, “The Roundtable could not have come at a better time. Educating the authorities about the critical importance of incentivizing, rather than militarizing Nigeria’s non-oil exports. Exporters must therefore, take the front burner now.
“The fastest route to a diversified economy is export development and growth. Unfortunately, with continued reduction in the budgetary allocation to EEG, Nigeria’s maritime sector (and by extension the country) is now at risk of losing its export operations and earnings to neighbouring ports, while repatriated export proceeds are sure to dip further.
“The time to advocate is now, and we surely must thank PDF Bridge Programme for organising this engagement.”
According to Titi Ojo, Lead Exporter Voices, PDF Bridge, “The need to make improvements in the implementation of the EEG to boost the morale of non-oil exporters cannot be over-emphasised.
“The PDF Bridge Programme through its Trade Policy workstream will continue to bring export stakeholders to the table to address the pressing issues and forge ahead with lasting solutions.”
The objectives of the roundtable are to: provide a forum for relevant stakeholders to discuss the findings from the EEG study and the best approach to utilise the output to improve the administration of the grants in their respective capacities.
Through the discussions, the roundtable also seeks to generate recommendations on necessary reforms, process restructuring, and elimination of various challenges identified in the study; and develop an action plan for prioritising and implementing recommendations from the study as well those identified through the policy roundtable.
The organisers said findings from the engagements would be fed back to the relevant government agencies for use in reviewing and redesigning their processes and procedures and to EBES as input into the Trading Across Borders (TAB) reform efforts.
