Follow Us on Google
Abia State is positioning itself to tap into the opportunities offered by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the United States’ trade and economic development programme, as it prepares to host the maiden African Diaspora Conference and Expo (Africando) from November 17 to 19 in Umuahia, the state capital.
The three-day event is expected to bring together African and American business leaders, educators, policymakers, trade and investment experts, bankers and representatives of international organisations. The aim is to improve trade and expand markets for African products globally.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, the Chief of Staff to Governor Alex Otti, Mr. Caleb Ajagba, said Abia was chosen as host because of its transformation into an industrial hub under the current administration.
He recalled that on assumption of office, Governor Otti prioritised infrastructure, security, power supply, manpower development and entrepreneurial capacity, in order to unlock the potential of the state and its people.
Ajagba said Abia’s manufacturing base, particularly in Aba, presents strong openings for international business partnerships and investment.
“Aba is a place where anything can be manufactured,” he said, adding that Africando is designed to provide small and medium-scale businesses with the resources they need to grow.
He added that beyond making funds available for the acquisition of equipment, the Otti administration has put in place policies and programmes to create an international market for the state’s products.
Also speaking, the President of the Foundation for Democracy in Africa, Mr. Fred Oladeinde, said plans were underway to establish a trade centre and a civil society network to give local enterprises easier access to international markets, investment opportunities and business partnerships.
According to him, the platforms will work with the Abia Global Chamber of Commerce, the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, the Nigerian Association of Women Entrepreneurs and other partners to strengthen trade links.
Oladeinde said manufacturers and entrepreneurs in Aba, a major commercial and manufacturing centre, stand to benefit from improved access to markets across Nigeria and West Africa.
He added that the initiative would also support advocacy for a long-term extension of AGOA, following its reported two-year extension to December 2028.
The expo’s theme, “Deepening U.S.–Africa Commercial Ties in the Area of AfCFTA and AGOA,” he said, would provide an opportunity to examine how existing trade frameworks can be translated into tangible commercial gains for African businesses.
Discussions will cover eight sectors, including agriculture, consumer goods, financial services, insurance and healthcare.
