their intention to invest in several economic sectors in Kaduna
Statesuchas textile, surgical equipment, agriculture, rail
transportation, pharmaceuticals, tricycle production, leather,
sportswear and poverty alleviation.
The Pakistani delegation, led by Zafar Mahmood and Nigeria's High
Commissioner to Pakistan, Dauda Danladi, told Governor Mukhtar Yero of
Kaduna during a courtesy visit at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House that
theyare willing to partner with the state government in the various
sectors.
Mr. Mahmood said he led the 46-man delegation to Kaduna to open
bilateral relations between the two countries and particularly with
Lagos, Kaduna and Kano states. He said Pakistan is number one in
pharmaceutical sector in Asia, with interests in textiles, surgical
and othermedical equipment, agricultural machinery, implements,
fertiliser and pesticides.
"We have certain technology and technical expertise that we export to
various countries. We are ready to transfer the technology and
expertise to Nigeria and to Kaduna state. We have been to Lagos and we
are here with 46 businessmen and politicians. We have discussed with
Kaduna chambers of commerce, industry, mines and agriculture,
KADCCIMA, andwe would sign an MoU with them," he said.
Mr. Danladi, who led the Pakistani delegation to a meeting with
officials of the Kaduna State Government and KADCCIMA, said the
delegation would take a look at the Zaria Pharmaceutical Company
before departingthe state adding that they had earlier visited some
textile and other companies at the Kakuri industrial area.
"On poverty alleviation we have a Senator Zafar, the first private
train owner in Pakistan, he is desirous in getting involved in rail
transportation and establishment of tricycle company in Nigeria," he
said
One of the textile industrialists, Muhammad Sandal, said, "We visited
twotextile companies (KTL and Finetex) we have seen the machineries
and the technology is older, we can bring our technicians here to
introduce new technology and new machineries. More than 20, 000 people
can be involved in that (textile) industry."
Governor Yero said the state would partner with Pakistani
industrialists on agriculture, education, rail transport, solid
minerals, textile, poverty alleviation and pharmaceutics. He said the
19 northern governors would also partner with the industrialists to
revive the moribund Kaduna Textile Limited to boost the economy and
enable the country export textile materials.
"Kaduna is an industrial town, a textile town, most of the companies
in the late 60's and early 70's are textile. KTL belongs to the 19
northern states and it is our desire to revive it, the 19 states
governors will be interested in partnering with anybody to revive the
company," the governorsaid.
Mr. Yero said the collaboration is vital as Kaduna State is former
capital of the north with a population of about seven million; and
being the focal point of all the northern state, it has most of the
available potentials needed for investment, particularly in tourism,
water resources, education and real estate.
"More than 70 per cent of our people are into agriculture and most are
into subsistence farming. It is our hope and desire that these farmers
transform into commercial agriculture so that they can earn from it,"
he said.
He assured the delegates on the availability of land in the old and
new industrial estates for establishment of companies, security, and
electricity,adding that efforts were in place to address the epileptic
power supply to help revive the comatose existing industries and
promote the establishment of other business ventures.
Mr. Yero also urged the delegates to visit the Tomato Processing
Company in Ikara, Sugar Company in Makarfi, and Kachia Ginger Company
as they had high potentials for them to invest in.
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