Mrs. Shimite Love, special adviser to Delta state governor on trade and export promotion, has said that Nigerians have no business being poor and crying over hunger on the streets.
Her view is far removed from the general cry across the nation where almost every Nigerian now says there’s hunger on daily basis. For her, there are opportunities everywhere to earn means of livelihood and stop crying of hunger across the nation.
The Delta governor’s special adviser, who spoke to a section of journalists during a press conference in her office, revealed that “we have no business being poor, we have business being hungry, even in the high exchange rate.”
According to her, “we are not just allowing ourselves to think. We have turned ourselves to a palliative country. I’m not a party to palliative. While others see hunger and poverty, I see opportunities around me.”
Reacting to question on how pandemic and harsh economy affect export business, she said her export office believes that when an economy is down, it’s a business opportunity for someone, when there’s a pandemic, it’s a business opportunity for someone and where there’s war, it’s a business opportunity for someone.
Arising from the opportunity in export business which many business owners are yet to tap into, she called on Deltans and others into export business to patronize the Koko port to ease export of their agricultural products.
She said Deltans and other Nigerians who experience delay in clearing their products for export in other sea ports should patronise the Koko port for speedy clearance even at lower cost.
The special adviser added that beside the ease of clearing products for export, Koko has a free trade zone saying “if you register as an import/export company under the free trade zone, you do not pay import or export duties.
“If you need to get to get an expatriate to come to Delta state to work, they won’t get a visitor’s visa but with the registration under the free trade zone, they get residency visa and also work permit. They are free to work and nothing is illegal.”
Mrs. Love revealed that her office has produced a strategic policy document, including a four year plan to improve trade and export in Delta state.
She said the document was produced following inter-ministetial meetings with shippers council, NNPC, ministry of trade and investment in Delta, ministry of agriculture, immigration, customs and others.
According to her, the document titled “Delta State Export Strategy Policy Document will help us know what our products are, the comparative advantage, where the money is if you want to go into export and import business, what kind of deals we’ve got with financial institutions to improve our trade and export in Delta state.
“We have engaged with different organizations like Africa Development Bank, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Agriculture, and others on behalf of Deltans. So, we are ready to do business if you are ready for us.
“For those who have never exported before, we have plans for you. We have been engaging with with ShopRite, Ebeano, Next Cash and Carry. We will teach you how to put your products in these super markets because what they ask for is the same quality as what merchants in US, UK and other countries ask for.
“The logistics is not difficult. We will teach you how to draw your Local Purchasing Order (LPO) and International Purchasing Order (IPO). We want you to use the local market to create your annual turnover.”
