The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has trained exporters in Imo State on technological skills for agricultural production and processing.
NEPC’s executive director, Nonye Ayeni, said that the training, which took place in Owerri, was intended to equip exporters with viable skills for processing of export products.
The workshop was themed: “Strengthening Technological Skills of SMEs for Agricultural Production and Processing for Export.”
Ayeni, represented by the NEPC’s Coordinator in the state, Anthony Ajuruchi, described the workshop as “a crucial step towards empowering our non-oil exporters with the technological skills necessary to thrive in the global market.”
She harped on the need to diversify the economy and move away from total dependence on oil, adding that “only a diversified economy can survive economic turbulence.”
This, she said, necessitates the training of Small and Medium Enterprises operators for export processing.
“As we strive to diversify our economy and reduce our reliance on oil, it is imperative that we equip our SMEs with the knowledge and expertise required to produce high-quality goods for export.
“The workshop will be sharing valuable insights and practical tips on how to enhance your technological skills, improve your productivity, and increase your competitiveness in the global market” , she said.
Speaking, Ugochukwu Ibe, an entrepreneur and managing director of Motoring International, called for a move from manual labour to development light machinery, adding that “we have what it takes to develop machinery for ease of processing“.
Also, Ugoeze Roseline Enwereuzor, an agropreneur and retired Director from the Raw Materials Research and Development Commission, Abuja, called for provision of security through vigilante services to prevent thieves from taking undue advantage of farms in rural communities.
