Edo State Government has hosted a stakeholders’ engagement with members of the Edo Licensed Exporters Association, aimed at charting a roadmap to enhance export activities, foster inclusive growth for farmers and stimulate economic growth in the State.
Addressing stakeholders from the Association at Government House in Benin City, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Finance, Investment, and Revenue Generation, Mr. Kizito Okpebholo, reiterated the State Government’s commitment to initiating strategic partnerships with relevant agencies and stakeholders to drive initiatives that support local exporters, enhance economic growth and increase revenue generation in the State.
Speaking on insecurity as a challenge hindering effective farm operations, Mr. Okpebholo underscored the State Government’s commitment to tackling insecurity and highlighted measures being implemented to address the challenge.
He cited the State Government’s partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to providing loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the State, aimed at boosting businesses and economic growth, assuring that the Government would collaborate with BOI to establish a dedicated Exporters’ Fund for State-based exporters, thereby providing additional support for economic development initiatives.
According to Mr. Kizito, “I can assure you that the Governor is actively working to ensure our farmers can safely return to their farms. Significant progress is being made, security vehicles and hundreds motorcycles have been distributed to all Local Government Areas in the State. Furthermore, we’re collaborating with the Bank of Industry to provide affordable loans at a single interest rate. Recently, the State also supported market women through financial assistance initiatives. More efforts are underway to further bolster these initiatives”.
The Coordinator of the Edo Licensed Exporters Association, Mrs. Rhone Peters, highlighted the importance of the meeting, stating that the Exporters Cluster, comprising agro-entrepreneurs, aims to partner with the Edo State Government to boost export capabilities, generate employment opportunities and foster inclusive growth for women, youths and rural farmers.
Mrs. Peters highlighted the Association’s critical need for funding to facilitate product certification, which would grant access to high-end global markets and drive growth in non-oil exports from the State. She underscored key strategic initiatives, including a partnership with the Bank of Industry to provide two hundred (200) members with low-interest loans, boosting SMEs development, the creation of a common facility hub to support exporters, amongst others.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of certificates to Amina Izuagbe, the Founder of Amineru Nigeria Enterprise Limited (Amineru Foods) and Stella Ereyukomhen, the Founder of Royal Winosa Industry Limited (Winosa Foods), who were winners of the WEIDE Fund Booster Grant Programme and WEIDE Fund Discovery Grant Programme, respectively, in partnership with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and International Trade Centre (ITC).
Gloria Osemudiamhen
Public Relations Officer
Office of the First Lady
Edo State
PHOTO CAPTION
Front Row (3rd Left): The Coordinator of the Edo Licensed Exporters Association, Mrs. Rhone Peters; 4th Left: the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Finance, Investment and Revenue Generation, Mr. Kizito Okpebholo and other stakeholders at the meeting held at Government House in Benin City.
