By Adedapo Adesanya
President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the commitment of his administration in partnering with the private sector to move the Nigerian economy.
The President, represented by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Niyi Adebayo, stated this at the weekend in Kaduna while declaring open the 43rd Kaduna International Trade Fair.
According to him, the theme of the fair, Re-Strategizing Nigeria’s Economy for Global Competitiveness, aptly captures the country’s development priorities.
He said the recent COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant effects on crude oil prices, foreign exchange and investment inflows have shown that there was a need to modify thinking on investment to guarantee Nigeria’s economic security.
“Our need to drive job-intensive economic growth means that we have to enable investment in areas with high potential for job creation and reducing the demand for foreign exchange,” he said.
However, he assured that the government was focusing on resolving the challenges in the business environment.
According to him, various teams are implementing various initiatives and policies that address key areas of investors’ concerns such as the need for modern infrastructure, power supply and good road network across the country, among others.
Mr Buhari also commended KADCCIMA for organizing the fair as well as Kaduna State Government for being one of the most frequently mentioned destinations for investors.
On his part, Governor of Kaduna state, Mr Nasiru El-rufai, commended KADCCIMA for organising the annual event, which provided opportunities for participants to showcase their products to boost the economy.
He called on the participants to make the best use of the opportunities provided by the fair.
In his remarks, President of KADCCIMA, Mr Suleiman Aliyu, said the choice of the theme for the fair was anchored on the need to focus attention on the efforts of the Nigerian government in revamping the dwindling fortunes of the economy.
He stated that the Chamber found it compelling to respond to the clarion call of the federal government by offering the business community and MDAs, a platform to exchange views and synergise.
