The Federal government has pledged to establish new industrial clusters and revitalize existing ones to facilitate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and industries nationwide.
Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, made this commitment during an interaction with government officials and business community members in Kano State.
Uzoka-Anite explained that the industrial clusters would offer access to subsidized inputs, power, access roads, and other essential infrastructure to enhance the productivity and profitability of industries and SMEs.
She emphasized the need to make these industries competitive, especially with the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aiming to reduce production costs.
Uzoka-Anite also discussed additional measures initiated by the Ministry.
She said: “We are also revamping the national commodity exchange to be able to do much more to support agriculture and encourage investment and development in the agriculture sector.
“We are determined to see more investments in agriculture as well as solid minerals sector and oil and gas sector.
“We are looking at ensuring that the farmers and producers get value for their efforts.
“We are coming up with a warehousing idea so that farmers can take their goods to warehouses and they can get some facilities to go back to farm more.”
Expressing concern over the rejection of Nigeria’s exported commodities at the international market, the minister emphasized the preference for the export of processed materials over raw materials.
During the minister’s visit to Kano State, she toured several industries, including Nigeria’sa Oil Mills along Hadejia Road, Dala Iminister’sPort in Zawachiki, and Kano Tanary at Challawa Industrial Estate, Kano.
