…as Otti declares open maiden Abia-Turkiye Investment Summit
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, on Tuesday, declared open the maiden Abia-Turkiye investment summit and product exhibition with the theme: “Bridging continents, unlocking prosperity”.
The summit is aimed at fostering mutual beneficial economic partnerships and deepening bilateral trade and investments between Abia State, the Republic of Turkiye and Nigeria.
Governor Otti, while declaring the 3-day event open at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to attracting global partnerships and unlocking new economic opportunities.
The governor said that the summit represents a major step towards expanding Abia’s economic frontiers and positioning the state, as an emerging destination for manufacturing, agriculture, small and medium enterprises (SME) development and Industrial innovation.
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He urged the Turkish investors to explore opportunities in agriculture, textile production, as well as engage with local business owners to build partnerships that would strengthen Abia’s position in the global market.
One thing you can be sure of is the steady support of the state government to make success of your ventures.
“You may wish to explore opportunities in manufacturing, retail value chains, logistics and transportation. You may also like to know that Abia has a specific set of advantages in fabrics and leather works.
“Do well to look in and identify suitable business ecosystems you can plug into. For consistently rewarding returns on investments, pay special attention to opportunities in housing development, manufacturing, metal fabrications and similar opportunities that the expanding economy of the city can support”, Governor Otti said.
The governor highlighted Abia’s key competitive advantages, citing the availability of a skilled labour force, the emergence of more reliable energy supply in strategic parts of the state, as well as the strengthened security architecture and improvements in road infrastructure under his administration.
He maintained that these factors position Abia state as an attractive destination capable of hosting large-scale, sustainable investments.
Governor Otti, who also highlighted the Abia Industrial Innovation Park (AIIP) in Ukwa Local Government Area (LGA), explained that the project, which sits on 2,000 hectares of land is designed, as a major industrial cluster built to support manufacturing and energy-driven enterprises that offers investors an opportunity to tap into the region’s oil and gas potential.
He reaffirmed the State’s readiness for foreign partnerships, noting that his administration’s investments in economic infrastructure are designed to create wealth, activate new front lines of opportunities, and put demand access to productive use.
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Fatih Tonzogho, the Commercial Councilor of the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria, said that Turkiye is committed to strengthening global partnerships adding that the country’s engagement with Africa has been a deliberate and consistent state policy since its launch by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2003.
Tonzogho described Africa with over 1.5 billion people and a gross domestic product (GDP) exceeding $3.5 trillion, as a continent for the future of global economic growth.
