Mkpoikana Udoma 26 March 2016, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, PHCCIMA, says it will synergise with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, to eliminate all impediments in policy and regulation militating against development and promotion of non-oil export in the country.
President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, made this known when the Zonal Controller, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Mike Nworgu, led the management of NEPC to the PHCCIMA office in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Membere-Otaji described export promotion as the new direction that would take the place of crude oil in Nigeria, hence the need to support the campaign against stifling policies and to review enabling laws to put things in the right perspective.
He assured the NEPC delegation that PHCCIMA, through its import/export and general merchandise trade group, would continue to interface in order to actualise the quest for seamless exportation of non-oil products in our country.
“The dwindling oil revenue occasioned by global fall in crude oil price has made it imperative to add thrust in encouraging export of local products and resource beside oil.
“We are encouraged with the diversification effort of the federal government and we believe it’s the right time to take advantage, through a private sector driven initiative to promote expansion of non-oil exports,” he said.
The PHCCIMA boss further pledged support in the area of research to enable industrialists take advantage to develop the export sector.
The Zonal Controller of NEPC, Mr. Mike Nworgu, in his speech, commended PHCCIMA’s commitment at ensuring that businesses thrive within Port Harcourt and beyond.
He said: “NEPC is a Federal Government Agency charged with the responsibility of promoting non-oil export in Nigeria to diversify from oil and build a formidable economy.
“NEPC is poised to sustain promotion of non-oil exports as the key driver of the Nigerian economy and synergising with the likes of PHCCIMA will help in no small measure to actualise this lofty objective of NEPC.”