‘Our Export Processes Designed To Simplify, Support Trade’- Dantsoho

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it has designed and developed sets of simplified export processes to support traders and other stakeholders engaged in the export and logistics value chain.

The NPA Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, who reiterated the development while speaking at the 36th Enugu International Trade Fair on the theme of the year’s fair “Developing Nigeria’s Industrial Sector / SMEs for Economic Advancement and Global Recognition”, implored the trading and investing public to explore the tailor-made simplified export processes and other vistas of opportunity created by the Authority.

Managing Director/ CEO Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho (2rd right) during an infrastructure assessment tour of Rivers Port Complex Port Harcourt.

According to him, the Authority in its bid to contribute to the strengthening of the domestic economy through the promotion of balance of trade, established the Export Process Terminal (EPTs) to simplify the hitherto burdensome process of exporting Nigerian goods, saying NPA has put measures in place to link value creators in the remotest part of the hinterland with the farthest clusters of demand anywhere on the globe.

The NPA boss said that as Nigeria’s foremost trade facilitation platform, the NPA is always proud to be associated with the noble cause that the Trade Fair represents, especially seeing that trade remains the most veritable tool for actualising major aspects of the country’s economic aspirations.

This is even as he assured stakeholders that the doors of NPA are always open for partnerships even beyond the trade fair.

“I therefore want to warmly invite you 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,” he said.

Dr 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 marketplace.

Speaking further, he said, “To facilitate Port-Hinterland connectivity and create pathways for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to play in the export value chain, the EPTs are to be linked with Domestic Export Warehouses (DEWs) in synergy with the NEPC and relevant partners.

“To align with the ease of doing business orientation of the Federal Government and the theme of the year’s fair “Developing Nigeria’s Industrial Sector / SMEs for Economic Advancement and Global Recognition” we are aggressively simplifying our export processes to enable made-in-Nigeria goods transit through our Ports as seamlessly as possible.”

To achieve the above goals, he explained that 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 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.

A passionate insider who understands the criticality of export in the trade global trade mix and its national economic dynamics, Dr Dantsoho commended the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (ECCIMA) for the resilience in sustaining the culture of hospitality and business friendliness that has continued to attract people from all over the globe to be a part of the Trade Fair which is deepening Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

He stated that the strategic positioning of Enugu as the gateway to the South-Eastern hinterland presents huge opportunities for the expansion of export opportunities which is the focal point of the Authority.