Vice-President, Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is committed to empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for the development of the nation’s economy.
Mr Olusola Abiola, Director of Information in the Office of the Vice President in a statement on Tuesday, stated that Shettima said this in an interview with newsmen during his tour of exhibition stands at the ongoing BRICS Trade Fair in South Africa.
BRICS, the acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is a group of five major emerging and developing economies.
Shettima noted that empowerment of the MSMEs was key to empowering youths and women to contribute to the nation’s economic development.
“President Bola Tinubu is a very compassionate leader and in the coming months, there will be changes in the fortunes of Nigeria.”
The Vice-President commended the organisers of the trade fair which had about 180 exhibitors from various sectors of the economy.
He expressed the hope that the exhibitions would, in the long run, serve the purpose of galvanising investment and trade in the continent.
Shettima, who took time to inspect Nigeria’s exhibition stands, appreciated the investments of Nigerians in South Africa.
“I am quite impressed by the investment Nigerians are making in South Africa; this is the harbinger of greater things to come.
“I can say that Nigerians are active in the digital economy, they are active in fashion, they are equally active in mining.
“I am glad that quite a number of our country men are doing well and are willing to partner with the home nation for the greater glory of the African continent.”
He also praised the Rose Bank, a Nigerian investment outfit in South Africa, for funding a cassava project worth N40billion.
“It is a game changer with the cassava value chain and its huge economic benefits; we hope that it will be reflected in other parts of the country.”
The Trade Fair is organised by the BRIC South Africa and The SA BRICS Business Council (SABBC), in collaboration with the Department of Trade Industry and Competition, on the sidelines of the on-going 15th BRICS Summit.
The exhibition is expected to serve as a platform for showcasing products and services from BRICS countries as well as business-to-business interaction with the aim to increase intra-BRICS trade and investments.
Shettima was accompanied to the Trade Fair by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Amb. Muhammad Manta; the Consul-General, Amb. Andrew Idi and other senior government officials.
