PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2012
PAGE 21
Kaduna Trade Fair aims at revamping Nigeria’s economy This year’s long delayed Kaduna International Trade Fair eventually kicked off last Saturday with excitement amongst local and international exhibitors as well as visitors in spite of the security challenges facing the North, Aminu Imam reports.
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he 33rd Kaduna International Trade Fair opened on Saturday with a pledge by the organisers to ensure that it facilitates flow of investments into the country. For the next days during the fair, all eyes will be riveted on the Kaduna metropolis, as prospective investors, stakeholders in b a n k i n g , telecommunications, transport and manufacturing sectors among many others gather at the Kaduna Trade and Investment Centre, the permanent site of the fair by Km 4, Kaduna - Zaria Road, Rigachikun. The President of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Alh. Umar Yahaya said in an address at the occasion, that the Fair would contribute towards the revamping of Nigeria’s economy. Yahaya said KADCCIMA was determined to help sharpen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global market and said six foreign companies from Poland, Hungary, India, Egypt, Senegal and Mali were participating in the fair, which has as its theme: ”Reawakening Nigerian Enterprises for Global Competitiveness’’. Alhaji Umar Yahaya said the trade fair is aimed at attracting investors into the Nigerian economy, strengthen local industries and facilitate interaction between local and foreign investors. He said some of the participating countries include: Thailand, Malaysia, Poland, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Mali, Chad, Egypt, Niger, Senegal and several other countries and commended the Kaduna state government for providing electricity transformers at the complex and the security arrangement made to ensure a hitch-free event. The National President, Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture, Mr. Herbert Ajayi noted that the n a t i o n ’ s h a r s h
business environment has limited the capacity of local investors to compete with their counterparts from developing nations. H e challenged theorganised private sector i n Nigeria to reposition itself to face the emerging challenges of global competitiveness by taking the lead in t h e economy. “If our economy is to speedily recover and enhance her sustainable business and economic growth, Nigeria and their foreign business partner, must be reminded that the expected growth of the economy would not happen without imbibing the spirit of good business ethics.”
Considering its vantage position as the home of Africa ’s most famous fair, the Kaduna International Trade Fair usually attracts an impressive crowd and publicity. And so it was last weekend as the city hosted several local and international companies at the 33 rd edition of the fair. This year’s fair has all the attributes of being unique and is expected to remain memorable, not because of the much expected influx of foreign investors into the country with the attendant impact on the country’s economy, but because the increased participation of local
Visitors at the Kaduna trade fair
p r o d u c e r s , especially the small and medium scale industries. Kaduna International Trade Fair is the most important annual event in the Calendar of Kaduna Chamber of Commerce. For every trade fair organized, an
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Today, firmly rooted in its permanent site, valued at over 2.2 billion naira, the Kaduna International trade Fair is a testimony to providing viable investment opportunities in the nation’s money-spinning vast economic potentials.
appropriate and suitable “trade fair theme” is chosen in accordance with the country’s economic and environmental situation and this theme accompanies the event through its duration. Moreso, a day is usually set aside within the period of the event, where exhibitors, participants, prospective investors and policy makers are invited to listen to experts, who present papers and disseminate information about prospects and endowments of the country. The organiser, KADCCIMA was established in 1973 and is the first Chamber to be established in the northern part of the country. The Chamber has over the years advised state governments a n d potential exhibitors worldwide to take advantage of the trade fair to showcase t h e i r various potentials in areas of agriculture, mineral resources, arts and culture among others, so as to attract investors to the states. The event which was first of its kind started as domestic fair, emphasizing on agricultural sector in 1974 on a biannual basis, the event continued until 1978 when three (3) domestic fairs were carried out in 1974, 1976 and 1978, respectively. In 1979, the Trade Fair became International, organized on annual basis. The first Kaduna International Trade Fair was held in February, 1979, at Murtala Mohammed Square where a total of 205 exhibitors participated. From that period, the event continued to grow bigger, providing avenue for the promotion and encouragement of development of industries and industrial inputs; the promotion of all aspects of economic sectors through national and international cooperation; the provision of access to research findings, new technologies and ideas for actualization by industrialists and policy makers through face-to-face interaction; creation of conducive atmosphere between Nigeria and other nations for joint venture project in all facets of
the economy and the provision of channel through which the government policies and programmes are made known and consequently attract international and local investment. These trade fair events have assisted in contributing to socio-economic development and growth of this country. Many industries and other business have been established as well as the government and the entire citizenry have benefited tremendously from this information concerning all sectors of the economy. This has resulted to several indigenous companies throughout Nigeria showing interest in this year’s fair. Today, firmly rooted in its permanent site, valued at over 2.2 billion naira, the Kaduna International trade Fair is a testimony to providing viable investment opportunities in the nation’s money-spinning vast economic potentials. Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has commended the sponsors of the Kaduna International Trade Fair. Speaking through his representative, Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna state, the president said Dangote Group, Unity Bank and others who are partnering with the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCIMMA) have shown sincerity in gingering economic activities in the country. He described the Kaduna Trade Fair as one of Africa’s most famous one, urging participants to maximize the comparative economic advantage of the state and Nigeria at large. These, he said, included agriculture and tourism. He also urged foreign participants to partner Nigeria’s Organised Private Sector and invest in Nigeria. He said his administration is committed to wooing foreign investors. Meanwhile, participants who thronged the Dangote pavilion said they were thrilled by the branding and several innovative products of the Dangote Group. In the same vein, the Director-General of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCIMMA), Malam Usman G. Saulawa, said the trade fair opened successfully with participants thronging various pavilions. Present at the opening ceremony included the wife of the Vice-President, ministers, wife of the deputy governor and several other investors and dignitaries.