20th July, 2017
The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) on Thursday advised exporters and importers to desist from fraudulent practices in order to expand the nation’s international trade.
The council’s Director, Regulatory Services, Mrs. Ify Ezedinma, gave the advice at a seminar organised by the South East Zonal Coordinating Office in Aba, Abia, with the theme “Best Practices for International Trade Compliance: Prospects and Challenges”.
Ezedinma, who was represented by Mrs. Enoche Ogenyi, an Assistant Director, Standard Services, gave a lecture entitled “Global Standard and Best Practices: Panacea for Enhanced International Trade”.
She noted that the abundant opportunities in international trade were being ruined due to fraudulent practices by some Nigerians.
Nigerians, she said, understood what was expected of them in international trade but found it difficult to play by the rules, thereby hindering expansion in export and import trades.
She, therefore, advised Nigerian exporters and importers to adhere to international best practices for their benefit and that of the country.
In another lecture entitled “The Role and Responsibilities of Parties in International Trade Transactions: What Stakeholders Must Know”, Mr. Emma Nwachukwu, accused some government agencies of hindering trade flow processes.
Nwachukwu, the Zonal Secretary, Association of Licensed Customs Agents, urged the Nigerian Customs Service and commercial banks to review their operational methods.
READ: Senate wants N200 to dollar rate for pilgrimages
This, he said, would ensure that they assist instead of constituting obstructions to exporters and importers.
He appealed to the government to remove the double checking of goods on transit at Onne Port and the Expressway in Port Harcourt, to make goods cheaper.
Earlier, Mrs. Ify Okolue, the South-East Zonal Coordinator of the council, said the seminar was aimed at imparting knowledge into industry operators, to enable them to reposition their businesses for increased share of the international market.
She said the theme of the seminar focused on complying with international trade rules which, she noted, was central to making progress in export and import business across the world.
She said that the objective of the seminar was to create the enabling environment to equip stakeholders to meet the demands of a dynamic industry.
Okolue urged participants to make the best use of the opportunities the seminar provided, to improve their practice and expand their businesses.