The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has urged members of the trading and investing public to explore and avail themselves of the tailor-made simplified export processes and other opportunities being offered at the authority aimed at boosting the Nigerian economy.
Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho made the call at NPA Special Day, while speaking at the 36th edition of the Enugu International Trade Fair, with the theme: Developing Nigeria’s Industrial Sector and SMEs for the Economic Advancement and Global Recognition.
He said in its bid to contribute to strengthening the domestic economy through the promotion of balance of trade, the NPA established the Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) to simplify the hitherto burdensome process of exporting Nigerian goods, adding that the Authority has put adequate measures in place to link value creators even in remote parts of the hinterland with the farthest clusters of demand anywhere in the world.
The Managing Director emphasized that as Nigeria’s foremost trade facilitation platform, the NPA is always proud to be associated with the noble cause the Trade Fair represents, especially seeing that trade remains the most veritable tool for actualising most of the country’s economic aspirations.
He assured stakeholders that the doors of NPA are always open for partnerships even beyond the trade fair, saying: “I, therefore, invite all businessmen and investors to interact with our business development team at the NPA pavilion and to also visit our fully interactive online real time website www.nigerianports.gov.ng to access our growth offerings.”
Dantsoho explained that the EPTs were conceptualized to serve as a one-stop-shop for cargo consolidation, stuffing, documentation, packaging, certification and onward shipment through electronic call-up to the ports in quick turnaround time, thus eliminating the duplications and bureaucratic overlaps that previously rendered Nigerian exports uncompetitive in the international market.
He said: “To facilitate Port-Hinterland connectivity and create pathways for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the export value chain, the EPTs will be linked with Domestic Export Warehouses (DEWs) in synergy with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and other relevant partners.
“To align with the Federal Government’s ease of doing business orientation and the theme of the year’s fair, we are aggressively simplifying our export processes to enable made-in-Nigeria goods transit through our Ports as seamlessly as possible.”
He further disclosed that to achieve the goal, the Authority is eliminating human interface which encourages underhand dealings by pursuing the full automation of NPA processes and procedures through the Ports Community System (PCS), which he maintained, lays the groundwork for the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW).
“For clarity, the NSW is the global best practice for delivering the greatest value with the greatest ease by connecting all stakeholders in the trade value chain for seamless interaction at the push of a button,” he said.
Dantsoho commended the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) for its resilience in sustaining the culture of hospitality and business friendliness that has continued to attract people from all over the world to participate in the Trade Fair which is poised to deepen economic prosperity, especially with Enugu as the strategic gateway to the South-Eastern part of the country.
