Nigeria begins export of Cassava chips to Europe

Nigeria has started exporting cassava chips to parts of Europe, specifically, Germany through the Pacific Ring West Africa (PRWA) company.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Segun Awolowo flagged off the exportation of the product in Abuja.

Awolowo, who spoke to journalists after sealing the container to be exported at the Idu Industrial Layout in Abuja, praised the product, saying it is very nice and testy.

“I am proud of this backward integration, we have our cassava now being very useful and this is also helping our farmers as it is providing jobs. So we are not just exporting raw timbers cassava anymore, we are actually doing something with the cassava.

“You can see the packaging, standards are met, the factory is clean and everything is being done precisely. I am so happy to flag off this first container going to Germany.

“I hope we are able to scale up with the company and export more,” adding that the council has been encouraging small and medium enterprises to boost their productivity for foreign markets.

“We work with small and medium scale industry, scale them up for export, advice and also get a market for them out there” Awolowo said.

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Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer, PRWA, Thomas Hirsch, said that the export container marked the first time that 100 per cent Nigerian grown, processed and packaged cassava chips have been exported from Nigeria to Europe.

According to him, the move has “countered the trend of exporting raw materials with little value added and importing branded snacks.”

Hirsch said further: “Value added products like cassavanovas will contribute to Nigeria’s economy, job creation, and this entrance into European markets represents a transformative moment in global perceptive of the quality, taste and international appeal of Nigeria’s products.

“PRWA have conducted consumer test around the world, with British, American, European and Asian consumers agreeing that they want to see Cassavanos in every shop across the globe.”

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