The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has vowed to strengthen collaboration with exporters in Kano State to boost the volume and value of non-oil exports to National Gross Products.

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, NEPC, Nonye Ayeni gave the assurance during an engagement with exporters and stakeholders in Kano where she equally promised to resolve concern on Export Expansion Grants.

Ayeni said NEPC under her leadership is committed to nature mutual business relationship between the council and exporters as well as gaining first-hand insight into the challenges confronting the stakeholders’ in Kano.

She essentially reminded that NEPC was committed to supporting exporters through capacity building, product development, value addition, compliance with standards and quality requirements, as well as creating market access and linkages.

According to her, “We have given them our commitment to continue to build their capacity, support them in terms of product development and value addition, and ensure that they maintain standards and quality.

“Most importantly, we will work with stakeholders to create market access and market linkages for them. We also spoke about opening up their products by exposing them to the global community,” he said.

She affirmed the exporters several challenges affecting their businesses, adding that the council responded to the issues and assured them of its readiness to provide further support.

According to her, some of the concerns raised centred on incentives and other interventions required to encourage local exporters and expand their contribution to the economy.

The NEPC said the council would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to address the concerns and ensure that exporters benefit from available government incentives.

She further highlighted the importance of increasing both the volume and value of Nigeria’s exports, noting that the country had recorded significant export performance in recent years.

Adding that the council’s interventions were in line with the Federal Government’s agenda of increasing participation in the economy, diversifying the nation’s revenue base and reducing dependence on oil.

According to her, the council would continue to work with exporters and other stakeholders to ensure that Nigerian products become more competitive in the international market.

In their separate remarks, exporters demanded for improved support in the area of market accessibility, supporting local products to gain access to international market and provision of EEG to local manufacturers.