Institute Of Export Operations And Management Nigeria Attends World Export Development Forum In Budapest
As part of efforts to focus on current issues shaping global trade and business and align itself to innovations that drives competitiveness, the Institute of Export Operations and Management – IEOM attended the 2017 edition of the World Export Development Forum held at Budapest the capital city of Hungary from the 24th to 26th October 2017.
With this year’s theme “focused on ‘Trade – a Force for Good: Include, Innovate, Integrate’ the two-day event was significant as it explores how trade can be a driver of inclusive growth and job creation focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Executive secretary of IEOM,, Mr. Ofon Udofia while speaking at the event highlighted the inherent export potentials in Nigeria and the Niger Delta. He disclosed that since establishment of Institute of Export Operations and Management in 2014, the Institute has been solely focused on the business of improving the export practices in Nigeria & Africa.
According to him IEOM has attained this focus by training, advising and collaborating with renowned international trade organizations like the International Trade Centre (ITC), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), European High Commission, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) among others. He said IEOM attaches significant importance to the role of SMEs in contributing to trade-led growth and job creation.
Speaking to a cross section of participants at the venue of the conference he said as in most other economies, SMEs form the backbone of the economy, represents over 90% of all business and contributes to two-third of global employment, thereby enabling more SMEs to connect to international markets to ensure that the gains from trade are more broadly distributed.
The global event witnessed up to 600 business leaders, policymakers and officials from trade and investment support institutions (TISIs) and international organizations including business leaders and the global trade and development policymakers convening to provide an excellent opportunity to put more trade in business and more business in trade.
During the event WEDF 2017 focused on current issues shaping global trade and business, from new regional trade routes such as China’s One Belt One Road initiative, to how innovation drives competitiveness among others can shape the future of business. Participants also explored how to best leverage the opportunities presented by more environment-friendly business models.
Highlight of IEOM attendance to the programme was the award of honorary membership of the Nigerian Institute of Export Operations & Management of Nigeria to the MD/CEO of eBSI Export Academy and IFC - International Finance Corporation, ICC Ireland, Mr Thomas Smith by the IEOM Executive Secretary, Mr. Ofon Udofia, and signing of an MoU between the two groups..At the end of the program there were facilitated business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking meetings in which around 200 national and international companies have the opportunity to find new business partners.