By Kingsley Agim
The Commissioner for Commerce, Pastor RoseMary Archibong has presented her Ministry’s novel product called YOUR MARKET FRIEND – an online shopping intervention – to the National Association of Nigerian Traders, Cross River State branch and solicited their support in actualising this intervention which, according to her, would subsequently be handled by private interest when presented to the public in the near future.
Pastor Archibong, who made the presentation recently during a courtesy visit of the Traders Association to her Office in Calabar, explained that the online shopping intervention became compelling, arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, where social distancing has become the new normal and certain category of persons may find going to the open market challenging.
She reminded the Association of the Tax Exemption magnanimity of Governor Ben Ayade, pointing out that such gesture would in no small measure better traders’ lots in their chosen endeavour, and cautioned that such humanism must be reflected in fair pricing of goods.
The Commissioner congratulated the Association for being able to harness the various trading bodies in the State and enjoined them to ensure that all COVID-19 protocols are observed by traders.
In his remarks, the chairman of the Association, Mr. Ejike Igwe, thanked the Commissioner for granting them audience and also having the Ministry participate in their stakeholders meeting held earlier in the year. He thanked the Governor for the Tax Exemption Order and pledged to support the Ministry’s MARKET FRIEND project maximally.