Polaris Bank Strengthens MSMEs Export Ecosystem At NAHCO-NACCIMA Export Group Programme

<h4>Polaris Bank Strengthens MSMEs Export Ecosystem<&sol;h4>&NewLine;<h4><&sol;h4>&NewLine;<p><strong><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;openlife&period;ng&sol;">OpenLife Nigeria<&sol;a><&sol;strong> reports that Polaris Bank has reaffirmed its strategic commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s non-oil export ecosystem and empowering micro&comma; small and medium-sized enterprises &lpar;MSMEs&rpar; at the NAHCO and NACCIMA Export Group Programme themed- <strong>Breaking Barriers&colon;<&sol;strong> <strong>Helping SMEs Navigate Export Procedures for Agro Products and Other Commodities&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The one-day engagement brought together regulators&comma; industry stakeholders&comma; exporters and trade bodies to advance practical solutions for easing trade barriers&comma; improving access to finance and building a more resilient and diversified Nigerian economy&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The programme also marked the formal introduction and launch of the NACCIMA Export Group and the NAHCO Export Support Centre for MSMEs in Nigeria&comma; creating a structured platform for exporters to access trade facilitation services&comma; logistics support&comma; regulatory guidance and financial solutions across the export value chain&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Speaking at the programme&comma; Polaris Bank’s Executive Director&comma; Chris Ofikulu&comma; underscored the national importance of export diversification and the central role of SMEs in building a resilient economy&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>He noted that reducing Nigeria’s dependence on oil revenues requires coordinated action across the public and private sectors to strengthen non-oil exports&comma; particularly within agro-exports and commodity trade&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;<em><strong>Expanding non-oil exports is not optional&semi; it is a strategic imperative for building a resilient&comma; inclusive and competitive Nigerian economy&period; <&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>&&num;8220&semi;SMEs&comma; particularly in agro-exports and commodity trade&comma; hold the key to unlocking our true comparative advantage&period; <&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>&&num;8220&semi;Polaris Bank remains committed to providing the finance&comma; advisory support and partnerships required to help them scale confidently and compete globally&comma;”<&sol;strong><&sol;em> Ofikulu said&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The engagement also focused on addressing structural challenges confronting exporters&comma; including infrastructure gaps&comma; port inefficiencies&comma; logistics constraints&comma; standards and certification requirements&comma; and policy consistency&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Participants emphasized the need for stronger public-private collaboration among government agencies&comma; trade bodies&comma; financial institutions and logistics partners to simplify export procedures and improve market access for Nigerian SMEs&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Also addressing stakeholders&comma; Olaleye Arinola&comma; Team Lead&comma; Trade Services&comma; Polaris Bank&comma; highlighted the importance of removing trade and payment bottlenecks that limit exporter competitiveness and cash flow&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>He emphasized the Bank’s focus on building confidence and certainty into the export process through practical financial and advisory support&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;<em><strong>Exports cannot grow if finance and payments remain obstacles&period; <&sol;strong><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><em><strong>&&num;8220&semi;At Polaris Bank&comma; our focus is on removing friction from international trade by ensuring SMEs get paid faster&comma; safer and with greater certainty through efficient trade finance&comma; secure cross-border payments and hands-on guidance across documentation&comma; FX and compliance&comma;”<&sol;strong><&sol;em> Arinola said&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>As part of its partnership with the business and trade community&comma; Polaris Bank unveiled a Dedicated Help Desk for NACCIMA members&comma; designed to provide direct access to trade finance and payment support&comma; fast-track resolution of export-related enquiries&comma; and personalized advisory services on FX documentation and regulatory compliance&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Polaris Bank reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with NAHCO&comma; NACCIMA and other stakeholders to strengthen exporter capacity&comma; promote value addition across agro-exports and commodities&comma; and unlock sustainable growth opportunities for Nigerian businesses in regional and global markets&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>As Nigeria advances its economic diversification agenda&comma; Polaris Bank remains positioned as a trusted partner for SME exporters&comma; providing the finance&comma; knowledge and institutional support required to compete globally and contribute meaningfully to national development and long-term economic resilience&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;