NEPC host training program on business generation methodology and trade promotion

The ED/CEO NEPC and President of the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organizations Network Dr. Ezra Yakusak hosted  a  five-day training programme on ‘Business Generation Methodology and Trade Promotion’ under the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) financed by the European Union under the 11th European Development Fund and  facilitated by the the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the ECOWAS Commission.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the training programme  Dr. Yakusak welcomed all participants  to the Secretariat of the  ECOWAS Trade Promotion Network -being hosted by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in Abuja Nigeria and expressed His sincere appreciation to  strategic partners, for facilitating the training

He spoke of the last Annual General Meeting of the ECOWAS TPO Network held in Accra in 2022, where  a common action plan to support trade development in the region and beyond was adopted . This informed the need to train and re-train staff of various TPO Member States in order to enhance their trade skills thereby improving trade within the sub region.

The ED/CEO said Today’s This training is aimed at strengthening our capacities in terms of “Business Generation Methodology and Business Promotion”. I am delighted to inform you that the previous training, which focused on “Result Based Management Oriented Project Cycle Management” has tremendously impacted in enhancing the performance of the participants and also up skilled the capability and competence of other staff and businesses through knowledge transfer and coaching technique.

He congratulated the participants on the unique opportunity provided through the training for them to build up their skills and acquire knowledge required to support export ready companies  participate optimally in trade promotion events while equipping them with relevant tools to develop supply and demand surveys, develop, implement and effectively monitor and evaluate promotional services efforts.

Emphasizing the availability of a unique opportunity to strengthen  collaboration and build Regional value chains, the ED/CEO said “ Our focus should therefore be targeted at expediting regional trade flow by closing the missing links and fostering a greater participation of Regional businesses across production lines”.

He emphasized that the region has all it takes to substitute imported inputs with locally sourced raw-materials and components which is a sure way of increasing intra-African trade.

In conclusion, Dr. Ezra Yakusak on behalf of the leaders of the ECOWAS TPO Network said “I want to specially appreciate the Executive Director of ITC, Ms. Pamela Coke Hamilton for releasing her very best professional staff, Miyoba Lubemba in absential, Mr. Imamo Ben Mohammed and Mr. Sebastian Rodas as Resource Persons. I also thank the ECOWAS Commission for facilitating the logistics of half of the participants and more importantly providing us with a committed and a highly resourceful personnel led by Mr Kolawole Sofola and his team for ensuring the successful completion of the three successive trainings as scheduled. For the EU, we appreciate your contribution and look forward to continued relationship to achieve our dream of increasing trade through regional global value chains”.