By Aliyu Muhammed
The Trans Sahara Trade Development Association of Nigeria (TSTDAN), North West Zone, has expressed its readiness to partner with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), and the Zamfara State Government to promote value addition to agricultural and mineral raw materials in line with the 30 percent value addition policy awaiting assent by the President.
The President of the Association, Alhaji Muntaka Isah, disclosed this on Wednesday, December 5, 2025, during a visit to the RMRDC Zamfara State Coordinating Office stand at the Zamfara State Pavilion during the 46th Kano International Trade Fair.
Speaking at the stand , Alhaji Isah stated that the association is seeking strategic collaboration with RMRDC and the Zamfara State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism to enhance the processing, labeling, and packaging of agricultural and mineral raw materials for export to African and global markets. He noted that the initiative would help unlock the vast economic potential of Zamfara State’s abundant natural resources while supporting local industries and export competitiveness.
In his remarks, the RMRDC Zamfara State Coordinating Office representative, Mr. A. D. Muhammed restated the Council’s readiness to collaborate with critical stakeholders in line with its mandate to promote the development and optimal utilization of Nigeria’s raw materials. He emphasized RMRDC’s commitment to encouraging value addition through local processing as a catalyst for industrial growth and economic diversification.
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Also speaking, the Director of Trade and Investment, Zamfara State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Hajiya Hadiza Bala Anka, reiterated the state government’s strong commitment to transforming Zamfara’s agro-industrial and mineral sectors. She disclosed that the government is investing significantly in value addition to bridge gaps in the manufacturing sector and empower small and medium-scale enterprises.
According to her, the Zamfara State Government, through its Government Empowerment and Enterprise Programme (GEEP), recently disbursed ₦1.1 billion to support over 1,100 entrepreneurs on December 3, 2025, with the aim of boosting local production and strengthening small businesses. She added that Zamfara State is endowed with vast arable land suitable for cultivating major food and cash crops such as rice, maize, groundnut, cotton, soya beans, sorghum, and sesame, positioning the state as a prime destination for agro-based investments.
She further assured investors of the government’s commitment to creating an enabling business environment through streamlined processes and investment incentives aimed at driving sustainable economic growth.
The proposed collaboration stresses a shared commitment among stakeholders to deepen value addition, promote exports, and position Zamfara State as a competitive hub for agro- and mineral-based industrial development.
