The Niger State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to attracting investment, accelerating industrialisation and expanding international trade through the proposed establishment of a world-class international trade zone at the Garam-Azhbisa Industrial Park in Tafa Local Government Area.
This was disclosed during a joint inspection of the 206-hectare industrial park by representatives of the Federal Government, the Niger State Government and a delegation of Chinese investors assessing the site for the proposed project.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Information Officer of the Niger State Ministry of Investment and Private Sector Development, Ismaila Musa.
The Garam-Azhbisa Industrial Park, owned by the Niger State Government, is located in Garam Community, Tafa Local Government Area, along the border with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Covering approximately 206 hectares, the site is strategically positioned to serve as a major hub for industrial and commercial activities.
Leading the state’s delegation, the Director-General of the Niger State Industrial Park Agency (NSIPA), Mohammed Kudu, reaffirmed the government’s readiness to allocate the facility to credible and committed investors.
He said the proposed international trade zone would stimulate infrastructure development, attract both local and foreign investments, generate employment opportunities and drive sustainable economic growth across the state.
Also speaking, the Head of Operations of NSIPA, Nasiru Suleiman, disclosed that 29 hectares of the industrial park had already been designated for the construction of a 500-unit housing estate by the Niger State Government.
He presented the feasibility study and master plan of the industrial park to the prospective investors, highlighting the site’s strategic location and vast development potential.
Speaking on behalf of the investors, the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Guangzhou, China, Mario Abbas, who led the Chinese delegation alongside a representative of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mahmud Mohammed, and the President of the Chinese-Africans International Trade Association, expressed satisfaction with the proposed site.
The delegation described the location as ideally positioned for international trade and pledged to work towards developing a modern trade zone with world-class infrastructure capable of competing with leading commercial hubs, including the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
Abbas requested copies of the feasibility study and master plan to facilitate documentation and investment processes upon the delegation’s return to China.
The envoy also assured the Niger State Government and the host community of the investors’ commitment to delivering the project and establishing a globally competitive trade zone that would enhance commerce and industrial development.
When completed, the proposed Garam International Trade Zone is expected to position Niger State as a major investment destination, strengthen international trade, boost industrialisation and create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities for residents of the state.
