Trade and investment Archives - PDF II: Resources

Non-oil exporters dialogue (Forum 6)

Micro, small and medium-scale enterprises are significantly represented among businesses involved in formal and informal cross-border trade and non-oil export, but many are unable to participate competitively due to challenges in the business environment. To support efforts to effectively position Nigeria’s micro, small and medium-scale enterprises for the global market, Policy Development Facility Phase II organised a series of forums aimed at improving access to finance for non-oil exporters and at developing non-oil exports in Nigeria. This report summarises the sixth forum in the series, and focuses on ‘Improving Trade Competitiveness and Business Environment in the South East’.

Policy Brief: Mapping of Exporter Experience in Non-Oil Export Sector in Nigeria

Business environment reform is a key driver of economic diversification and inclusive growth. The Nigerian government took a decisive step in this direction by rolling out executive orders (EOs) on ease of doing business on 18 May 2017. The Orders were targeted at repositioning Nigeria in the global non-oil economy through the improved capacity for competitive non-oil export. Against this background, PDF II funded a mapping of non-oil exporters was carried out and deliberately focused on MSMEs due to their importance to the government’s efforts to diversify the productive base of the economy.

Improving Trade Policies in Nigeria

Crude oil prices took a deep plunge in April 2020 with Brent Crude dropping below $20 per barrel. With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and crashing oil prices, the need for Nigeria to be less reliant on oil becomes more glaring. The Policy Development Facility Bridge programme’s Trade Policy Workstream (TRD) has been supporting the growth of the non-oil export sector since its predecessor programme Policy Development Facility II (PDF II). The support is a two-pronged approach that is targeted at increasing the number of export-ready MSMEs in the non-oil export trade. This approach explores enabling the identified underrepresented export-oriented voices in economic policy and strengthening the sustainable participation of exporter groups. Listen to the changes that have occurred.

CBN forex dialogue report (I)

In June 2015 the Central Bank of Nigeria restricted the sale of foreign currency for the purchase of certain items following a slump in government revenue resulting from a decline in crude oil prices. The decision aimed to conserve foreign reserves, facilitate the resuscitation of domestic industries and improve employment generation, but proved unpopular, particularly due to its unintended impact on small businesses.

Against this background, the Central Bank of Nigeria forex policy dialogue was held in September 2015 to examine the impact of the foreign exchange policy on small and medium-sized businesses and citizens, gain a better understanding of the bank’s plans and seek alternatives and next steps. This event report sums up the key messages to emerge from the dialogue.

Rebuilding Nigeria’s Economy through Non-Oil Exports: A Strategic Imperative

The Non-Oil Export Community of Practice became the vehicle through which exporter voices became heard and grew in strength and in numbers. By the end of the PDF II program, the Community of Practice was formalised into a registered Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) called the ‘Network of Practicing Non-Oil Exporters of Nigeria (NPNEN)’ to continue the efforts initiated during the PDF II. NPNEN was set up as an umbrella platform for collaboration among the different actors in Nigeria’s non-oil export value chain. NPNEN convened its major flagship event, the annual Non-oil Export Conference, Exhibition and Awards (NECEA) which is also a vehicle for actualizing its objectives.
The 2021 NECEA brought together critical stakeholders in the non-oil sector including top officials of government, civil society, private sector, the media, and academia to dialogue on how to refocus the country’s non-oil sector, for more effective participation in global trade, especially within the framework of the recently operationalized African Continental Free Trade Agreement. Given also the current state of Nigeria’s economy as evident in the downward spiraling of the Naira, there is certainly a need to revitalize the economy primarily through non-oil exports. The NECEA was a good medium to beam the spotlight on the alternative to oil as the mainstay of the economy.

Diversifying towards non-oil exports in Nigeria

The study ‘Diversification and Non-Oil Export Opportunities for Nigerian States Post-COVID-19’ was commissioned by the NEPC through the Policy Development Facility (PDF) Bridge Programme for use by the public and private sector stakeholders. Ernst & Young conducted a market analysis on six prioritised products from the Zero Oil Initiative and provided strategic recommendations.

PDF Bridge has now developed a policy brief for stakeholders to highlight the key issues and recommendations. The full study can be accessed here.

Tailoring Nigeria’s response to COVID-19

With the global COVID-19 pandemic came the need for local manufacturers to step up to the challenge and produce face masks, face shields, and PPEs due to dwindling supplies caused by high demand the world over. The support provided by government agencies to these entrepreneurs was critical, this in turn was derived from the technical advice supplied by the PDF Bridge programme under the Trade Policy Workstream through dialogues, studies, and roundtable events. The workstream focuses on non-oil exports by bringing underrepresented voices into economic policy and strengthening the participation of exporter groups in trade. The workstream engaged with representatives of Abia State Government during its dialogues particularly with the Director-General of the Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency (ASMQMA). This engagement led to increased capacity and redirection of strategy for the Aba Textile cluster in the production and distribution of finished goods. With help from the State Government’s agency on quality and standardization, Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency (ASMQMA), tailors generated an estimated $4-5million for the Nigerian economy from Abia State alone from the production of PPEs. This created a 110% increase in tailoring personnel.

Enabling Nigerian firms to become export ready

Against a backdrop of falling oil prices, the Nigerian government has woken up to its economic vulnerability to oil-related disruptions. This underscores the need for diversification to non-oil exports. PDF Bridge supported the drive towards growing non-oil export by supporting under-represented non-oil exporters through three strands of work: strengthening Nigeria’s ability to trade beyond its borders through the Network of Practicing Non-Oil Exporters of Nigeria (NPNEN), an export mentorship programme, which links experienced exporters with new and growing export businesses; and training sessions for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) intending to export non-oil goods were held on; Market Entry Strategies, Understanding export documentation, Raising Finance for Export, Branding, and packaging for export. In addition, Roundtables were held on;

Addressing Barriers to Access to Foreign Markets – An analysis of Spices & Herbs, Textiles & Garments, and Leather Products;
Analysis and Impact of Export Expansion Grant on Export Potential, Market Access and Export Competitiveness in Nigeria;
Improving Market Access through Digital Trade and;
Analysis of Potentials of Nigeria’s Services Sector for Economic Diversification, Employment and Foreign Trade;
Diversification and Non-oil Export Opportunities for Nigeria States Post-COVID19 Study

ANALYSIS AND IMPACT OF THE EXPORT EXPANSION GRANT ON EXPORT POTENTIAL, MARKET ACCESS AND EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS IN NIGERIA

Continuous and consistent implementation of the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) has been identified as crucial to the diversification agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN). Despite its importance, however, the programme has experienced various implementation challenges and, at least, three suspensions since inception. The aim of this study is to provide evidence-based information on EEG implementation to guide relevant stakeholders to reform and reposition the scheme for greater effectiveness. The study aims to specifically analyse the impact of the grant on the beneficiaries prior to suspension in 2013 and the post-suspension implementation from 2017. It also investigates the challenges faced by beneficiaries in their attempts to access the grant. The study applied both primary through survey and secondary data through desk review to address the set objectives of the study. The survey was conducted through three methods: (i) administration of questionnaires, (ii) Key informant interviews (KII), and (iii) focused group discussions (FGD).

Analysis of Potentials of Nigeria’s Services Sector for Economic Diversification, Employment, and Foreign Trade

Africa’s contribution to global trade in services is little with slow growth despite rapid globalisation and liberalisation. The continent’s intra – African trade in services is also relatively little. Nigeria’s services sector contribution to its GDP is huge, representing 55.8 per cent in 2017. It recorded a growth rate of 1.83percent in 2018. Hence, the services sector possesses the immense potential to promote diversification, employment, and growth, even without a current holistic services sector policy. This study specifically mapped and profiled key services sectors; reviewed domestic regulations relating to services; estimated the current and future potentials for export, and provided associated recommendations.