EXPO

Kano State, Nigeria’s leading commercial hub in the north, has maintained strong trade ties with China and other Nationals  since the early 2000s, evolving from the import of textiles and consumer goods to machinery, construction materials, and agricultural inputs, with Kano serving as a strategic gateway for distributing Chinese products across West and Central Africa. While this relationship has boosted market access and industrial supply, it remains heavily import-driven, with limited local value addition, technology adoption, or skills development. To create a more balanced and mutually beneficial partnership, there is a need to promote technology transfer through joint ventures that enable local assembly and manufacturing, establish technical training centers in partnership with Chinese and other international  institutions, foster research collaborations between Kano’s universities, Chinese and other international  institutes, develop industrial zones dedicated to innovation, and expand exports of processed agricultural and leather products to China. Shifting from a consumption-based relationship to one anchored in knowledge sharing, skills training, and innovation will position Kano State to harness trade with China and other Nationals as a catalyst for industrial growth and sustainable economic development.