Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Government says it is expecting the influx of more foreign direct investments through the 20th Aba International Trade Fair slated for November 28, to December 7, 2024.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade , Commerce and Industry, Chief Nwaka Inem who stated this during a world press conference in Aba, said that a number of investors and companies from America, Europe and Asia, were expected to participate in the trade exhibition.
Inem who is the Chairman of the local organising committee said the state would leverage on the increasing numbers of those visiting the state for investment to attract more foreign investors.
He said that the event was being organised in collaboration with the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ACCIMA.
Inem who gave Aba Mega Mall complex,Osisioma Ngwa, off the Port Harcourt-Enugu expressway, also said adequate security arrangements had been put in place for the security of participants including foreign visitors.
He disclosed that the trade fair committee had signed a Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) with two reputable consultants; Vivamark Communication Limited and the Global Fairs and Exhibition, to take charge of the event.
According to him, the trade exhibition will send a positive signal that Aba, and Abia State had arrived as a power house in the economic sector of Africa and are willing to play huge roles in world business.
“Aba International trade fair will significantly be different from whatever must have taken place before.The partnership between the government and ACCIMA shows that the glory of Aba is returning.
“What we will do this year will send a signal that Aba’s time to shine has come. It was set to help business owners and customers prepare what promises to be a lifetime experience.
“We have secured all relevant interest to use the Aba Mega Mall for the event. It is secured and accessible. Experts all over the world have been contacted to send proposals.”
Inem also stated that the decision to work with the two reputable consultants was after the evaluation of many proposals from many top consultants.
“The Aba International trade fair will include workshops, symposia and other significant exhibitions and will be a strategic showpiece to announce Abia’s arrival as an economic powerhouse.”
Contributing, Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr Kingsley Nwokocha, said that the Aba international trade fair was one of its kind in the South-East and would be a significant move to prove that “Aba is back.”
“The Governor knows what is expected of him and he is reassuring all of us that Aba is back. It is time for the glory of Abia state to shine globally. We will never disappoint our people because we trust the man in charge, who is Governor Alex Otti.”
In his remarks, President of ACCIMA, Mr Geoffrey Uzoagbara, said it was the first time Government and ACCIMA were collaborating to package a trade fair.
He said the Aba business community had never had it so good, stressing that Otti’s emergence as Governor has changed the business landscape of the state.
“We’re planning and will host an International trade fair that will reflect the current mood in the state which is the highest standard because our governor understands what is expected of him.”
