The Nigerian Export Promotion Council has described loan and grant facilities provided by the federal government as viable tools to boost export trade.

Coordinator of the NEPC in Imo, Anthony Ajuruchi, said this at an engagement forum of non-oil exporters with trade-related agencies, organised by the council, in Owerri, on Wednesday.

Mr Ajuruchi said that with support from government agencies, the export market in Imo and Nigeria at large can afford to expand and compete with global markets.

He urged exporters in Imo to take advantage of the soft loans and grants being provided to grow their businesses.

Speaking, the Imo/Abia coordinator of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, Austin Ikeh, said the forum provided a good avenue to reach actors across the value chain.

Mr Ikeh said that with collaboration with the Nigeria Export-Import Bank, the government can provide support for farmers and exporters.

He advised exporters to obtain the required certifications from regulatory agencies and acquire knowledge of the export business to enable them to access government facilities.

Freeman Godwin, the CEO of Belarhem Dynamic International Ventures, an exporter of edible food items, identified the poor management of goods by airline operators as a major challenge.

He called for improvements, adding that exporters cannot afford to waste loan facilities.

“Sometimes, I’ve had to count my losses after experiencing damages to my goods at the warehouse as a result of poor preservation and management by the airlines,” he said.

(NAN)