(DDM) – Abia State Governor, Alex Chioma Otti, has urged national and international investors to explore opportunities in the state as he officially opened the Abia-Turkey Investment Summit and Product Exhibition at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.
DDM gathered that the three-day summit, themed “Prosperity through Partnership,” is designed to create a platform where local business leaders can directly interact with international partners, fostering collaboration and opening doors to regional and global markets.
Governor Otti assured investors of a business-friendly environment, promising that his administration would continue to transform Abia State’s immense potential into a springboard for accelerated socio-economic development.
He highlighted the state’s strategic advantages, including a large pool of skilled and resilient workforce, reliable electricity supply, especially in Aba, well-maintained road networks, and a peaceful atmosphere conducive to business growth.
The Governor encouraged investors to engage with the Commissioner for Agriculture to explore opportunities across the agricultural value chain in all local government areas of the state.
“My charge to you is to visit communities, interact with local business leaders, and identify strategic business opportunities while enjoying the steady support of the state government,” Otti said.
He further advised investors to explore Abia firsthand, stressing that seeing opportunities directly would enhance strategic planning and investment decisions.
The Commercial Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria, Erdal Faitah Tozoghu, expressed Turkey’s strong commitment to fostering economic ties with Abia State, emphasizing the potential for lasting value creation through joint ventures.
Tozoghu said, “The steps we take today will build a bridge not only between two economies but between two futures. We hope this summit becomes a regular tradition, with broader participation and more Turkish companies joining.”
Several partners, including the Managing Director of Vega Growing Global Enterprise, Prince Eniola Joseph Ojajuni, and Managing Partner Abiodun Aderohunmu, highlighted investment opportunities in textiles, agriculture, and manufacturing.
They praised Governor Otti’s reforms, describing Abia as an emerging investment destination in the South-East and expressed pride in contributing to the state’s economic development.
The Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Dr. Mrs. Salome Obiukwu, described the summit as a bold initiative aimed at deepening economic cooperation, unlocking new investment opportunities, and strengthening ties between Abia State and Turkey.
Earlier, Chief Jerome Green-Amakwe, Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment Promotion and Public-Private Partnership (PPP), noted that the summit would significantly boost the state’s economy by promoting trade, commerce, and industrial partnerships.
He emphasized that the event allows Abia State to showcase its transformation to the world, remarking on the unprecedented developments achieved under Governor Otti’s leadership over the past two years and six months.
The summit has been widely regarded as a strategic move to position Abia as a hub for investment, innovation, and economic collaboration between local and international stakeholders.
