By Zubairu Idris
The Katsina State Government has convened a stakeholders forum on trade facilitation with a view to eliminating bottlenecks that hinder growth and development of economic activities in the state.
Inaugurating the meeting on Tuesday in Katsina, the Commissioner of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Alhaji Rabiu Yusuf-Jirdede, assured that the government would strive to rely on commercial and economic activities for its prosperity.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ms Aisha Abdullahi, the Commissioner said that the government had already inaugurated a Trade Facilitation Centre in 2025.
“Its coordinating offices will be established in all the 34 local government areas of the state,” the commissioner said.
The initiative, he said, would enhance trading activities and increase the volume of trade between the state and other parts of the world, as well as facilitate the overall economic transformation of the state.
According to him, the forum will bring together all ministries, departments and agencies whose mandate directly or indirectly has to do with facilitating trade, investments and entrepreneurship with a view to eliminating bottlenecks in the processes.
In his remarks, the lead Consultant on the Trade Facilitation Centre, Dr Bala Mahmoud-Abubakar, said that trade facilitation is also associated with information flows and the involvement of relevant stakeholders in the trade facilitation process.
He said that the center would partner with the State Ministry of Justice to review existing laws that would enhance trade and investment promotion.
Mahmoud-Abubakar said that the center “is also partnering with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in educating the business community”, especially those involved in import and export businesses, on the rules and regulations of international trade.
He said that the center was working with the Ministry of Agriculture to reduce post-harvest loss.
The consultant further said that the center was partnering with market associations to enable them benefit from the services of the center.
