The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says it is organising a nationwide capacity building programme for 740 SMEs on products branding and packaging.
A statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Director-General of SMEDAN, Olawale Fasanya, said that the training would enable the beneficiaries to compete in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“The key objective of the training is for Made- in-Nigeria products to become more competitive in the international market, within the context of the AfCFTA.
“The training programme will take place in Owerri from Sept. 27 to Sept. 29, Lagos Oct. 24 to Oct 26, Abuja Oct. 4 to Oct. 6 and Yola Nov. 1 to Nov. 3.
“Kano Nov. 22 to Nov. 24 and Benin Nov. 8 to Nov. 10, with a total of 740 Small and Medium Enterprises to be empowered,’’ Fasanya said.
He said that MSMES were the nucleus of the AfCFTA initiative which seek to convene the most relevant and knowledgeable thought on improving packaging and branding techniques.
Fasanya said that the programme would improve the capacity of MSMEs in Nigeria in the process of adding value to products to enhance sales.
“Similarly, it will raise public awareness about the importance of MSMEs to economic growth and international development.
“It will also improve access to export market while serving as platforms for knowledge sharing among global MSME agencies, embassies, such as the National Action Committee on AfCFTA.
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”Ít will also broaden the information flow for competitiveness of MSMEs in AfCFTA,’’ the D-G said.
Fasanya said that the programme aims at integrating MSMEs to take advantage of AfCFTA market and beyond and to enhance enterprise networking and promote made in Nigeria goods and services.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that AfCFTA was created by the African Union to establish a single continental market for goods and services with free movement of business professionals and investments.
It is expected to expand intra- African trade through better harmonisation, coordination of trade liberalisation and facilitation.
This is to enhance competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level by exploiting opportunities for scale production, continental market access and better reallocation of resources.
