PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has unveiled plans to connect Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) with Domestic Export Warehouses (DEWs) to enhance port-hinterland connectivity and create opportunities for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the Managing Director of NPA, disclosed this development at the 2024 Lagos International Trade Fair.
Dantsoho noted that EPTs, established in partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), aim to simplify Nigeria’s export process by providing a one-stop shop for packaging, certifying, and stuffing export-bound cargo.
“As some of us are aware, in our bid to contribute to the strengthening of the domestic economy through the promotion of balance of trade, we established the Export Process Terminals (EPTs) to simplify the hitherto burdensome process of exporting Nigerian goods.
“The EPTs were conceptualized in partnership with the Nigerian Exports Promotion Council (NEPC) to serve as a one-stop-shop for the stuffing, packaging, and certification of export-bound cargo in quick turnaround time by eliminating the duplications and bureaucratic overlaps that previously rendered Nigerian exports uncompetitive in the international marketplace.
“To facilitate Port-Hinterland connectivity and create pathways for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to play in the value chain, the EPTs are to be linked with Domestic Export Warehouses (DEWs) in synergy with the NEPC and relevant partners,” Persecondnews quotes Dantsoho as saying.
He said the NPA is aggressively pursuing full automation of the nation’s processes and procedures through the Ports Community System (PCS), laying the groundwork for the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW).
The NSW is a global strategy that connects stakeholders in the trade value chain for seamless interaction, delivering value with ease.
The NPA’s plan aligns with the Federal Government’s focus on ease of doing business, with the aim of promoting balanced trade and strengthening the domestic economy.
Dantsoho emphasized that the theme of the 2024 trade fair, “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value,” “resonates with the NPA’s corporate aspirations as a business-enabling agency.”
Persecondnews reports that NPA has already made significant strides in promoting non-oil exports, with the designation of the Lilypond Terminal as a specialized processing and handling facility for locally made finished and agricultural goods.
This move is expected to ease bureaucratic and logistical bottlenecks faced by exporters.
The authority’s efforts to enhance port-hinterland connectivity and promote SMEs are crucial for Nigeria’s economic growth.
With the country’s non-oil exports reaching $2.6 billion in the first half of 2022, the NPA’s initiatives are both timely and necessary to sustain this momentum.
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