Bauchi State government says it has earmarked N300 million to support businesses to accelerate the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

The Commissioner for Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, Sa’adatu Kirfi, said this at the inauguration of the Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme (KEEP), on Saturday in Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area.

She said the gesture would boost trade and enhance wealth creation for the sustainable social and economic development of the state.

“The money will be disbursed to the business community any moment from now,” she said.

According to her, the KEEP scheme is in fulfilment of the promise of the present administration, adding that economic strengthening items worth N75 million would be distributed to youth and women in the area.

She said 9,500 persons had benefited from the programme in 19 LGAs since the scheme’s inception.

The commissioner urged the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the items and engage in productive activities to make them self-reliant.

Meanwhile, Governor Bala Mohammed has performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the Azare Ultra Modern market project.

He said the project would be executed through Public Private Partnership (PPP), adding the move was a deliberate policy to improve the economic fortune of the state.

He said under the PPP arrangement, the state government allocated land while a private firm, Modern Shelter System and Service Ltd, would execute the project.

(NAN)