The Katsina State Government has announced that Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has given the go-ahead for the second phase of the state's trade facilitation centres project. This upcoming stage will focus on setting up coordinating offices in every local government area within the state.
Upon completion, this project is set to make Katsina the first state in Nigeria to implement a fully established and comprehensive trade facilitation infrastructure. The announcement was made by the State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, Rabi’u Yusuf Jirdede, during the official inauguration of the Katsina Trade Facilitation Centre Stakeholders Forum. The event also marked the commissioning of the Katsina Trade Facilitation Centre itself.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Hajiya Aisha Abdullahi, Commissioner Jirdede highlighted that this initiative has significantly positioned Katsina as a rising player in both national and international commerce. He pointed out that Katsina is now the second state in Nigeria to host a Trade Facilitation Centre and is the first sub-national entity to provide formal legislative backing for such an endeavour.
According to Jirdede, this represents a significant stride towards aligning the state with global trade standards, thereby opening up new avenues for economic expansion and market penetration.
Commissioner Jirdede further stated that the centre underscores the current administration's dedication to fostering a supportive environment conducive for businesses to launch, grow, engage in collaborations, and compete effectively, not only within Nigeria but also on the global stage.
Similarly, Dr. Bala Mahmoud Abubakar, the lead consultant to the Katsina State Government on trade facilitation, elaborated that the concept extends beyond the mere movement of goods and services. He explained that it encompasses the seamless flow of information and the active involvement of crucial stakeholders, including government agencies and the private sector.
Dr. Abubakar described Katsina as a developing national model in trade facilitation and urged for continued support to ensure the successful execution of the centre’s strategic objectives.
Usman Dalhatu, the State Coordinator for the centre, shared his optimism that this initiative will successfully connect Katsina's entrepreneurs and industries with worldwide trade networks.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!