Gov. Alex Otti of Abia says his administration’s support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is intentional, noting that the sector remains the backbone of the state’s economy.
Otti made this known on Thursday when the Ugandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Philip Odida, visited him in his country home, Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the delegation from the Nigeria-Uganda Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NUCCIMA) was part of the envoy that paid the governor a visit.
The governor also reiterated his administration’s determination to create the right environment for businesses to thrive through infrastructure development, improved security and efforts toward steady power supply.
“We also understood that our people are not looking for palliatives or looking for handouts.
“They are people who want government just to create the enabling environment, and they will take it and run.
“That’s why we focus on creating infrastructure, making the place safe, cleaning up the environment, providing constant power as much as possible, and just doing everything to make their businesses thrive,” he added.
Otti said the visit by the Ugandan delegation was strategic, adding that Abia was ready to work with Uganda to identify key areas of collaboration.
“Trade is one thing, but I think beyond trade, there is partnership, that is where I want us to focus on.
“What are the things that are there that our people need and the things we have that your people need?
“How can we now move from there to even exchange ideas, to work together for the benefit of Nigeria and Uganda?” he said.
The governor described Uganda’s 45 million population as a huge market and invited the delegation to visit Aba to witness the ingenuity of local entrepreneurs.
“I urge you to go and see for yourself how people make shoes, make fabrics, and details all over the place.
“Sometimes you’ll be amazed at the quality coming from Aba and you may not be able to differentiate between that and what comes from Europe and North America,” he said.
Otti said that anyone seeking entrepreneurs and creative individuals with ingenuity and the ability to produce almost anything should look to Aba and Abia.
He noted that while they might not initially appear sophisticated, their skill and innovation enabled them to create and with time, become experts in their fields.
Otti expressed the readiness of Abia Government to partner the Ugandan Government to strengthen economic cooperation and promote trade, especially in the area of MSMEs.
In his remarks, the Ugandan High Commissioner said that the visit aimed to explore concrete avenues for economic cooperation between Abia and Uganda, especially in the MSME sector.
“It is indeed a great honor to be welcome to a state widely recognized as a rising center of innovation, enterprise, and economic dynamism in Nigeria,” Odida said.
“Today, our delegation, together with the NUCCIMA, is here to explore concrete avenues of economic cooperation between Abia State and Uganda, especially in the MSME sector, which forms the backbone of our economies,” he added.
Odida said that Uganda viewed Nigeria not only as a sister nation but as a strategic partner in Africa’s economic renaissance.
He said that as Africa continues to integrate its markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the need for stronger economic cooperation among nations had become more critical.
According to him, Abia under the visionary leadership of Otti, had distinguished itself as a model of good governance, prudent financial management, and successful industrial revival.
Odida said Uganda saw immense opportunities in connecting Abia’s manufacturing and creative clusters with Uganda’s vibrant private sector.
“Working together, we believe that our MSMEs can innovate, can add value, can trade more competitively, and create jobs for our young people.
“Our objective today is simple, but ambitious, to lay the foundation for a sustainable and mutually beneficial economic bridge between Abia and Uganda,” he added.
Earlier, the President of NUCCIMA, Chief Michael Awunor, said that the partnership was aimed at expanding market opportunities for MSMEs in both countries.
“Uganda is about 45 million people, and in need of so many things that we have, just as they have also so many things that we need,” Awunor said.
“The problem MSMEs are having is that their products, most of the time, have no market.
”Who says the market of a product must be where it is produced? We have to make efforts.
“We have to look inward and outward to get the market that they need so that they can prosper,” he added.
Awunor said Abia was chosen as Uganda’s preferred partner state because of its strong commitment to MSME development.
He said that when the Commission was considering states to partner with in the promotion of MSMEs, crafts, and other businesses, he could have suggested his home state, Delta.
“But we are talking about MSMEs, where the two countries would benefit, let us go to Abia State,” he said.
Awunor explained that his choice of Abia was not influenced by personal ties or familiarity with the government, but because the state had excelled in MSMEs development
