The Assistant Director of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Abuja, Peter Njoku explains the reason why businesses in the South East do not access federal government funds.

Njoku stated this, on Friday 27th March 2021, in Aba, during the Export Development Fund sensitization seminar for businesses in Aba.

He, therefore, called on businessmen and women in the region and Abia, in particular, to avail themselves of the opportunities and access the Export Development Fund to grow their export businesses.

“We were specific that people in the East hardly believe in government programmes.

“We appeal to them to know that this one is genuine and that if they did not apply, they will not benefit so let them not come back and say they were not told.

“That is why we are doing these sensitization programmes. We have done one in Enugu and we are holding this one in Aba today.

“Anytime from next week, we will roll out the advertisement and after that the fund application will come up online from early next month”, he said.

Njoku said that for people to qualify for the N5 billion fund they must have an incorporated company, registered with a CAC certificate, Tax clearance certificate, and with products or services that are of Nigerian origin.

He said companies, whose products have not met the required international standards, could access the funds and use part of it to standardize and certify their products, making them fit for export markets.