NEPC commends Cross River Green Money Initiative in Agriculture

The News "NEPC commends Cross River Green Money Initiative in Agriculture" First appeared on Paradise News

By Mike Abang

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has commended the Cross River State Government for it Green Money Initiative in Agriculture towards revamping the State economy and diversifying from oil in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief executive officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council Olusegun Awolowo said this on Tuesday during a two day capacity building workshop with the Theme “Enhancing Global Market Access for Cross River Green Money Initiative” by NEPC in collaboration with a Cross River State market oriented Agriculture Initiative held at Marian Hotel Calabar the State capital.

Awolowo said undoubtedly, Cross River State is rich in agricultural production with huge potential in Cocoa and other exportable products, which he said can generate employment for the teaming youth and women, support wealth creation and further boost the economy of the State.

The (CEO) who was represented by Uduak Ekukowoh, the director, International Export Office Abuja, further disclosed that exporting can increase your ability to compete in the domestic market while also allowing you to diversify your markets in such a way that you will no longer be dependent on any particular market for success.

“At the national level, it is necessary for Nigeria to diversify its export earnings and move away from its over-dependence on oil as the only source of foreign exchange revenue. We are living witnesses to the challenges  the recent global crash in oil price has created in the implementation of the 2020 budget apart from the distortions and structural imbalance we have seen in the past”.

In his remarks, Governor Ben Ayade while declaring the workshop open said the State government has completed plans to decouple the State from over dependent from Federal allocation, hence the construction of the Bakassi deep seaport, a cargo Airport and the Superhighway

Ayade who was represented by the director of agricultural services Gabriel Ofono said the State government was promoting agriculture as a way of diversifying its economy and providing job opportunities for its teeming youth who are unemployed.

“We need to export goods produce from Cross River, that is why we are constructing a deep seaport, a cargo airport, we want the federal government to key into this projects, we will appeal to NEPC to take this message to the federal government”, the governor stated.

In a welcome address, the Trade Promotion Advisor Calabar Smart Office Emmanuel Etim said the workshop is a clear demonstration of NEPC continuous efforts to spearhead the diversification of the Nigerian economy away from the oil sector, through the promotion and development of the non oil sector of the national economy.