At the 44th Kaduna International Trade Fair over the weekend, President Muhammadu Buhari reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing agriculture in order to strengthen the economy and create jobs.
Malam Muhammad Mahmud, the minister of agriculture, spoke on behalf of the president at the opening of the fair, which was organized by the Kaduna State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (KADCCIMA). Malam Mahmud said that the government would continue to support businesses, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as well as encourage trade and investment to achieve economic sustainability and lessen reliance on imported goods.
The fair’s theme, according to Otunba Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, is “Promoting Value Addition for Sustainable Growth.”
The fair’s theme, “Promoting Value Addition for Sustainable Growth and Development,” was in line with the federal government’s empowerment drive, which aims to close technology gaps and build local capability, according to Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Otunba Adebayo.
For the benefit of your members and the Nigerian economy, he addressed KADCCIMA, “Your partnership with the government has revolutionized the industrial landscape of the city.”
Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State, was present and was represented by Dr. Yusuf Sale, the permanent secretary of business, innovation, and technology. He urged investors to visit Kaduna and urged the chamber to make use of its facility for events other than the annual trade fair.
President of KADCCIMA, Alhaji Suleiman Aliyu, noted that only high value addition culture and great capacity utilisation would push Nigeria to a favourable position within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He stressed the need for Nigeria to be increasingly innovative and promote a high level of value addition “as most of the countries involved in the trade agreement have similar products and resources.”
