The Managing Director, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, made this known at the opening of 2025 Kano Free Trade Zone Investors and Stakeholders Forum in Kano, with the theme; “Strengthening Partnerships for Efficient Service Delivery in the Free Trade Zone”.
Mr Ogunyemi, represented by the Head of Kano Free Trade Zone, Mr Richard Bassey, said it’s an indication of substantial improvement of economic activities compared to the previous year.
He expressed confidence that the forum would produce workable strategies to enhance Free Zone administration in line with international best practices while affirming commitment to enhance the country’s Free Trade Zone (FTZ) operations by enforcing regulations and collaborating with other agencies.
According to him, the time had come to address operational gaps and administrative bottlenecks hindering smooth operations in the zone.
He further added that the forum provides vital platform for investors, government agencies and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and explore collaborative approaches that will boost production capacity and competitiveness.
Meanwhile, NAFDAC State Coordinator, Kasim Idrissa, called for enhanced collaboration and strict adherence to regulatory standards to ensure production of quality and safe products within the Kano Free Trade Zone.
He said that the forum would harmonise procedures to enhance efficiency and strengthen quality of products manufactured for both local consumption and export.
He warned that substandard products originating from the free trade zone, even when exported, could impact NAFDAC’s international rating.
Idrissa urged manufacturers and investors within the zone to comply with regulatory standards by maintaining good manufacturing practices.