Effort to streamline the activities of informal traders along the border markets may soon yield result, as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Katsina State Government have agreed to formalize trade along Jibia – Marade border market.
The agreement was formalized when the Katsina State Government’s delegation led by the Deputy Governor, Mannir Yakubu paid the newly appointed NEPC Executive Director, Ezra Yakusak a courtesy visit in Abuja. Speaking at occasion, the NEPC Executive Director, Ezra Yakusak said the visit was germane given the expected role of the state in streamlining informal trade.
He said that confirmed with the recent effort by the Council to formalize trade through the establishment of Domestic Export Warehouses (DEW) and Export Trade Houses (ETH) in designated centers across the country. The NEPC boss said the two initiatives will help in streamlining the activities of informal traders, generate reliable trade data, create employment and wealth, generate more foreign exchange, enhance trade facilitation by reducing the cost and time of doing business thereby ensuring seamless trade along the border post. The Deputy Governor, Mannir Yakubu the state government has set aside about 800 hectres of land for the project.
He however, commended the Council for facilitating trade through several export intervention programmes such as the Export Expansion Facility Programme which is targeted at mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on exporters.
