Summit to Deepen Economic Ties Between Abia, Turkey Opens in Umuahia

Boniface Okoro   in Umuahia

A platform for deepening economic ties, bilateral relations and promoting sustainable investment partnership between Abia State and the Republic of Turkiye has opened in Umuahia with the Abia-Turkiye Investment Summit and Product Exhibition.

With the theme: “Bridging Continents, Unlocking Prosperity,” the three-day investment summit seeks to create a dynamic platform that fosters strategic economic cooperation, deepen bilateral trade and enhance mutually beneficial partnerships between Abia State, The Republic of Turkiye and Nigeria as a whole.

The primary objective of the Abia-Yurkiye Investment Summit, according to Abia State Government, is to attract Direct Foreign Investments by showcasing the state’s reformed business environment, infrastructure improvements, manufacturing and priority sectors to encourage Turkish and International investor to invest in viable investment opportunities.

It also aims to promote bilateral trade and industrial collaboration, enhance technology and knowledge exchange, strengthen Public-Private Partnership (PPP), as well as the state’s transparent, investor-friendly PPP framework as a gateway for large-scale infrastructure and development projects.

Declaring the summit open on Tuesday, Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, explained the event was organized to create a platform for local business leaders to have a handshake with their peers from across Nigeria and the world.

He added that the aim was to create partnership opportunities for local businesses to leverage upon and to enable them to gain a foothold on regional and global markets; while letting the world into Abia State.

The governor urged investors and partners to take advantage of the large population of skilled and resilient workforce, regular and reliable electricity supply, especially in Aba, the best networks of roads and peaceful atmosphere of the state to expand their footprints in Abia.

Governor Otti further enjoined the investors to use opportunity to explore opportunities within the agricultural value chain in all the local government areas of the state by interacting with the commissioner for agriculture. 

“My charge to you will be, to go into the communities, interact with the local business leaders, and take note of the opportunities that offer strategic business advantages to your team.

“One thing you can be sure of is the steady support of the state government to make success of your ventures. 

“My charge to you once again will be to explore Abia, take trips around the state, and see things for yourselves,” Governor Otti said.

Commercial Councillor of the Trukish Embassy in Nigeria, Erdal Faitah Tozoghu, said at the gathering, that the Republic of Turkiye is deeply committed to fostering business relationship between it and the Abia State Government, and assured that together, they could go far and build lasting value. 

“The steps we take today will build a bridge, not only between two economies, but between two futures. I sincerely hope that this event will become a regular tradition in the years ahead. 

“We will do our utmost to be here again, with broader participation and even more Turkish companies joining us,” Tozoghu assured, adding “let us walk this road together with trust, respect, and shared ambition.”

In their contributions, the partners, including the Managing Director, Vega Growing Global Enterprise, Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni and the Managing Partner, Vega Growing Global Enterprises, Abiodun Aderohunmu, highlighted the essence of the summit, listing some areas of investments in Abia to include textiles, agriculture and manufacturing.

Also, the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Dr. Mrs. Salome Obiukwu, described the summit as a bold step towards deepening economic cooperation, unlocking new opportunities, and strengthening the bridge of partnership between Abia State and the Republic of Turkiye.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment Promotion and Public Private Partnership (PPP), High Chief Jerome Green-Amakwe, had said the summit and exhibition would contribute immensely to the growth of the state’s economy through promotion of trade, commerce and industry.

Chief Green-Amakwe while highlighting what Abia State stands to gain from the investment summit, said: “Abia is using this summit to expose itself to the world. In the last two years and six months, we can see without doubt the reformation, the transformation, the unprecedented developments being propelled by His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti.”

Highlights of the event included exhibition stands inspection by the governor and other dignitaries.