Abia Gov Opens Investment Summit, Woos Turkish Partners

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has formally opened the Abia Investment Summit, launching a renewed push to attract foreign partnerships — particularly from Türkiye — as part of his administration’s broader drive to rebuild the state’s industrial capacity and strengthen economic growth.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, Governor Otti said the summit was conceived as a strategic platform to reposition Abia as one of Nigeria’s most attractive destinations for manufacturing, agro-processing, textile production, energy investments and export-linked enterprises. He described the event as a milestone in the state’s investment promotion agenda, aimed at drawing international investors into long-term collaborations with Abia’s emerging industries. According to him, the summit reflects his administration’s commitment to shifting Abia away from decades of under-investment and bureaucratic setbacks toward a future built on innovation, competitiveness and investor confidence. “Abia is open for business,” the governor declared, reaffirming the government’s readiness to work closely with foreign partners, especially Turkish companies seeking reliable opportunities within Nigeria’s southern economic corridor. The event brought together key stakeholders, including local manufacturers, business associations, development partners, representatives of chambers of commerce and a number of Turkish firms with interests in textiles, leatherworks, construction technologies, agriculture, renewable energy and logistics. The governor noted that Türkiye’s industrial strength, especially in manufacturing and mid-sized enterprise development, aligns with Abia’s ambition to revive its once-vibrant SME sector. Governor Otti highlighted Abia’s competitive advantages, such as its established commercial hubs, skilled workforce and ongoing infrastructure upgrades across transportation, power, and enterprise clusters. He also pointed to reforms the state has implemented in procurement, business registration and public-sector efficiency — measures he said were designed to eliminate bottlenecks that previously discouraged investment. Investors need stability, clarity and support,” Otti said, assuring participants that his administration is building a system where legitimate businesses can thrive without undue interference, extortion or policy uncertainty. He added that the government will continue to prioritize transparency and fiscal responsibility to ensure investor confidence in both public and private sector-led projects. The summit also features exhibitions showcasing local products from Abia’s textile, footwear, agro-processing and creative industries — sectors the state hopes to scale up through technology transfer and joint ventures with Turkish and other foreign partners. Delegates were encouraged to explore collaborations that would introduce modern machinery, expand export capacity and establish value-added production lines within the state’s industrial clusters. Sessions throughout the summit focus on manufacturing modernization, agricultural value chains, infrastructure financing, energy solutions and public-private partnerships. Business-to-business meetings have also been scheduled to allow local entrepreneurs and visiting investors to negotiate partnerships capable of generating new jobs, boosting production and enhancing Abia’s contribution to the national economy. Government officials expressed confidence that commitments made during the summit will translate into concrete investments in the coming months, including potential factory setups, processing plants, distribution networks and technical training programmes for local artisans and workers. The Abia Investment Summit continues with sector dialogues, investment pitches and trade exhibitions aimed at converting investor interest into actionable projects. Stakeholders have described the event as a crucial step in repositioning Abia as a competitive and business-friendly hub capable of attracting sustainable international partnerships.