Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment towards mapping out policies and programs aimed at reviving the economy through global commercial activities.
The lead expert trade enablement of the national action committee on the African continental free trade area agreement (AFCFTA) Mr. Olusegun Olutayo stated this during a nationwide sensitization organized by the committee in Kano.
According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated AFCFTA on the 20th December 2019 to ensure that business owners collaborate and work together to achieve the desired objectives.
He pointed out that the program is aimed at promoting exportation of goods and services to the biggest market in Africa without paying dues.
The lead expert in trade enablement explained that 90% of all products have been liberalised. Saying that, pharmaceutical products, palm oil, financial services, tourism, transportation, communication among others are all part of the AFCFTA.
Mr. Olusegun described Kano as a commercial nerve center from time immemorial which can compete with others globally if products have better access to African markets through the African continental free trade agreement.
In his remarks the Kano state commissioner of commerce and industries Barrister Ibrahim Mukhtar expressed the state government’s readiness in upgrading commercial activities to standard world practices.
He said,the Kano state government was committed to providing an enabling environment through which businesses are blooming as well as establishment of more industries to reduce unemployment.
Barrister Ibrahim Mukhtar charged participants to make judicious use of the knowledge gained and urged the national action committee on the African continental free trade area agreement to work assiduously in ensuring adequate representation from the 36 states of the federation.
Some of the participants who spoke to Radio Nigeria, Hajiya Fatima Abubakar Amnif and Alhaji Umar Habu Ibrahim described the sensitization as timely and promised to work hard in utilizing and putting the knowledge gained into practice.
The nationwide sensitization was attended by officials from SMEDAN, Nigerian Export Promotion council, Kano chamber of commerce, mines and agriculture as well the general public
KHADIJHA ALIYU