By Naomi Uzor
The Federal Government, has said that the on-going Kaduna International Trade Fair is well-timed and aptly linked to the nation’s industrial revolution plan.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 39th edition of the Kaduna Fair in Kaduna, President Muhammed Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, said the theme of the 39th edition, “ Promoting Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for International Competitiveness,” is very appropriate at the present state of the economy.
He stated: “The theme of the event is apt and relevant to the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) with stated objectives of fast-tracking inclusive growth, job creation, enterprise development and industrialization, and the success of these policies is already evident in increased value addition in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors”
“As we are all aware, capital investment is a vehicle for industrial growth in any developing country like Nigeria. However, the bulk of industrial inputs in Nigeria are imported, which should not be the case. To promote the inflow of foreign capital, we should undertake measures for using and promoting our own inputs to produce our goods” he stated.
The President of Kaduna Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture, KADCCIMA, Dr. Muheeba Dankaka, said the Nigerian economy is influenced by both external and internal factors like any other country operating within the present global setting, adding that the country faces the challenge of steering the economy towards global economic integration through trade liberalization, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, trans-border investment flows and prompt, efficient and effective mechanism for conflict resolutions.
“At the domestic front, there are challenges of nurturing a stable democracy founded on respect for the rule of law, security of life and property, adequate supply of power and energy, improvement of infrastructure, judicious management of national resources, technology acquisition as aid to industry and agriculture.’’
All these are essential for creating the enabling environment for private sector participation in the economy” she stated.
The President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Iyalode Lawson, while noting the efforts of the Federal Government and Kaduna State government in economic recovery and support to Chambers of Commerce, stated: “We recognize also the increased investments in socioeconomic infrastructure and the inauguration of the Economic Planning Board (EPB) to spur development in the grassroots among others. These are required actions needed to drive economic development in the State”
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