Rimsom recently started training some Nigerian companies to take advantage of exporting their products to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). These companies are in the non-oil manufacturing sector ranging from the production of sesame oil; uniforms and apparel; arts and craft; shea butter; cocoa; luggage production; e.t.c.
The first training session was held from July 21st to July 25th 2008, at the Rimsom Associates office in Victoria Island, Lagos. The instructor was Ms. Mildred Steward, former Attorney Adviser for the U.S. Import Administration and participants included: AGC Limited (manufacturers of Shea butter cream), VAC Industries (manufacturers of 100% sesame oil), Terra Kulture (pioneer company in distribution of African arts, craft and culture), J JUMAC (makers of boxes, hand bags and traveling bags e.t.c) and Zizi Cardow (fashion designer) among others.
The curriculum covered the nature of and procedures for exporting to the U.S. market, such as:
- AGOA history, evolution, benefits, eligible products and export procedures
- US market profile
- Sales opportunities and challenges
- U.S buyer expectations
- Payment processes
- U.S Trade shows
- Market research
- U.S Government regulations on products, pricing, packaging, labeling, traceability
- U.S homeland security regulations impacting foreign producers and exporters
- Speed to market
- Bar coding
- Using technology in export promotion and sales
AGOA is a US trade law which allows for quota free, duty free import of goods into the U.S. from Sub- Saharan African countries. This law has been amended a number of times in order to boost the attractiveness of exports to the US.
Rimsom with this action is spearheading a drive to encourage Nigerian companies that are export oriented to take full advantage of AGOA. A sensitization program is underway to increase accessibility by exporters to information, awareness and support by taking this training to various zones in Nigeria.
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