To boost trade relationships with Nigeria, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), a governmental agency that supports business development, partnerships, and collaborations between Italian companies and their local counterparts has launched the first E-Lab Innova in Nigeria.
This is focused on increasing the technical and managerial skills of Nigeria agri-food companies in order to support their access to European Union (EU) markets and foster business partnerships with Italian companies and will be implemented in partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Commission (NEPC), alongside other Italian partners, such as MACFRUT, a leading exhibition for the agribusiness industry. This partnership will develop the capacity of agribusinesses and aid their integration into the value chain of EU markets.
Selected participants with the support of NEPC are CEOs of high-potential companies active in the production of foods such as mango, pineapple, shea nuts and groundnuts.
The programme which is scheduled to hold for five weeks will be implemented in three phases: a preliminary assessment to analyse the technical and management training requirements, company potential and profile design; 2-week webinar training classes focused on key internalisation topics and a 5-day study tour in Italy, which will include Macfrut exhibition.
The programme will involve nearly 40 Nigerian companies in total. Thirteen agribusinesses across Nigeria took part in the first training session including United Agro Cooperative Society Limited, Cobrend Trading, others.
In his opening remark at the event held to flag off the training, the ITA Director for West Africa, Dr. Alessandro Gerbino said: “Nigeria remains a strategic point for engagement between the agency and other countries across West Africa. The E-Lab Innova holds prospects for Nigerian companies to be imparted on the knowledge and technicalities of their counterparts abroad whilst also paving the way for collaborations between Italian and Nigerian agribusinesses.”
He further said ITA is committed to supporting the government’s plan to create more jobs through the agro-food industry, as well as ensuring that these businesses have the right skill set to grow, sustain their operations and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s economy.”
In her keynote address, Uduak Etokowoh, Deputy Director, International Export Offices, NEPC said: “EU is one of the largest markets for agribusiness, however, challenges such as logistics and inability to meet market needs pose a threat to growth opportunities. In adjusting to the new normal of virtual engagements, we are extremely delighted to partner the ITA to deliver this virtual training in support of wealth creation for the economy and to enhance seamless penetration to the EU markets for Nigerian agribusinesses”.
Since the launch of Lab Innova in Africa, over 140 companies across Ghana, Angola, Mozambique, Uganda and Ethiopia have successfully gone through the training programme, with study tours and exhibitions held in Italy.
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