KANO — The strategic importance of Nigeria’s northern commercial hub is set to be a focal point of the upcoming Kano International Trade Fair, as major industrial players move to align with the region’s economic ecosystem. The event, running from November 22, is poised to become a key testing ground for linking large-scale industrial projects with local SME development.
This synergy is central to the Dangote Group’s participation. The conglomerate is actively framing its sponsorship as a vehicle for national food security, highlighting Kano’s role as the anchor for its 1.5 million-tonne per annum rice milling capacity being built across six northern states.
In a move beyond simple exhibition, the group is operationalizing the fair’s theme, “Empowering SMEs for Sustainable Growth.” According to the Kano Chamber of Commerce, a formal partnership is being pursued at the event to facilitate “backward integration and industrial skills transfer” from the conglomerate to smaller enterprises.
This strategy will be visibly implemented through dedicated business partnership help desks, aimed at identifying and integrating SMEs into Dangote’s wider supply chains.
The event, expected to draw over 1,000 global exhibitors, will also be used by the company to fine-tune its market mix. The launch of new 100g and 25kg sugar packs indicates a concurrent focus on consolidating both its consumer and B2B market presence while deepening its industrial footprint in the region.
