Dep Gov: Kaduna Trade Fair seeks to support MSMEs

 Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, praised the Kaduna Market Trade Fair as a chance to provide budding businesses and industries with the necessary exposure.

Dr. Balarabe said ‘’there are many entrepreneurs and small businesses that are innovative and are prepared to feed markets yet to be identified by corporations and large businesses. ‘’

At the third Kaduna Market Trade Fair's opening ceremony on Saturday at Murtala Mohammed Square, the Deputy Governor said this. She bemoaned the fact that these enterprises were ‘’known and cannot be given the chances to make their marks.’’

‘’This third edition of the Kaduna Markets Trade Fair is designed for our Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to promote their products,  goods, and services,’’ she said.

According to Dr. Balarabe, ‘’the first and second editions of this fair had huge attendance from within and outside the state. The state government is supporting this fair because of such benefits and the internationally known advantages associated with MSMEs in national development.’’

She said ‘’the United Nations recognizes them as key drivers of employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship for women, youth, and groups in vulnerable situations. ‘’

‘’Therefore  MSMEs are active agents for the reduction of poverty, redistribution of social classes in society, and closing of the gender gap as they ensure women’s full and effective participation in the economy and society. 

 ‘’ Kaduna state is known for its active agricultural population and a leading producer of many crops. There are therefore many agro-allied industries in the area that are MSMEs. These MSMEs are active in the food production and processing value-chain in the state,’’ she said.

Dr. Balarbe stated that MSMEs enable women's full and effective engagement in the economy and in society, which helps to reduce poverty, redistribute social classes in society, and close the gender gap.

‘’Kaduna state government has since recognized their importance and is therefore set to not only support existing ones but cultivate the emergence of many more.” 

‘’Kaduna state Enterprise Development Agency (KADEDA) was therefore established with the mandate to make MSMEs in Kaduna state thrive through building their capacities to be stronger, sustainable and have access to both indigenous and global opportunities,’’ she disclosed.

The Deputy Governor emphasized that other organizations, including  Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA), are in charge of enhancing the economic climate in Kaduna State.

She claims that KADIPA makes sure that barriers to doing business in the state are reduced for both large and MSMEs.

She congratulated the Kaduna Market Management and Development Company for putting on the trade show and added that it is one of the government's agencies revamping marketplaces to meet international standards to draw in customers from abroad.