Abia targets foreign investment as AfrICANDO trade conference begins Tuesday

Abia State is set to host the 2026 edition of the AfrICANDO US-Africa Trade and Investment Conference/Expo, with organisers expressing optimism that the three-day event will attract international investments, strengthen trade relations and create employment opportunities.

The conference, scheduled to begin on Tuesday, November 17, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, will bring together investors, business leaders, development partners and other stakeholders from Africa, the United States and beyond.

Ahead of the event, members of the organising committee, led by its chairman and Chief of Staff to Governor Alex Otti, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, outlined the expected economic benefits during a press conference at Government House, Umuahia, on Friday, November 13.

With the theme, “Deepening U.S.-Africa Commercial Ties in the Era of AfCFTA,” the conference is expected to position Abia as a marketplace for international capital, technology, products and business opportunities.

Speaking at the briefing, President of the Foundation for Democracy in Africa and Chairman of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Civil Society Organisation, Fred Oladeinde, said the conference would position Abia as an important player in the global economy.

He described the event as a significant milestone, noting that it would be the first time the international conference was being hosted on African soil and in Abia State. According to him, the 27th edition of AfrICANDO would provide Abia with a unique opportunity to strengthen economic relations with other countries, attract foreign investors and integrate local businesses into global supply chains.

He said: “The visionary outlook of the current administration in Abia State presents us with an opportunity to bring international stakeholders, development partners and investors to the state.” Oladeinde added that the conference would showcase the state’s economic potential to international stakeholders and encourage partnerships and investments capable of supporting the government’s industrialisation and economic development agenda.

He disclosed that the organisers were also seeking to establish a permanent campus in Abia State to serve as a centre for training, capacity development and economic collaboration.

According to him, the proposed institution would create employment opportunities and provide the technical and professional training needed to prepare the state’s workforce for the demands of the global economy. Oladeinde said the organisers’ ambition extended beyond Abia, stressing that they wanted Nigeria to become a significant contributor to international supply chains.

“Our ambition goes beyond Abia State, as we want to create an environment where the state, and indeed Nigeria, can become an important part of the global supply chain,” he said. He expressed confidence that the conference would translate the relationships and discussions generated into practical partnerships, investments, employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth.

Highlighting the focus of AfrICANDO 2026, Oladeinde identified nine economic sectors, including agriculture, trade and investment training, energy, petroleum and tourism, among others. He urged residents, businesses and other stakeholders to take full advantage of the opportunities the conference would offer.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Abia State Diaspora Commission, Dr Okey Agbara, said the conference would bring together African countries, the United States and other international stakeholders to explore opportunities for trade and economic cooperation.

He explained that AfrICANDO was associated with the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), an initiative introduced by the United States government in 2000 during the administration of President Bill Clinton and recently reauthorised. Agbara said one of the conference’s major objectives was to establish an African Trade Development Centre (ATDC) and strengthen the utilisation of AGOA to promote trade between African countries and the United States.

Expressing concern that Nigeria had not fully exploited the opportunities offered by AGOA, he said Abia was now poised to lead efforts to ensure that local businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises and industries benefited directly from the initiative. “The proposed African Trade Development Centre would provide a platform for developing local businesses, improving trade capacity and connecting manufacturers with international markets,” he said.

Similarly, Chairman of the Abia Global Chamber of Commerce, James Ogbuka Umekwe, commended Governor Otti for providing the support and enabling environment needed to attract investments and tackle the brain drain affecting the state and the country. He said the conference would help maximise Abia’s economic potential while showcasing its products and investment opportunities to the international community.

“We are committed to working with a governor who has provided the necessary support and enabling environment to reverse the brain drain that has affected Nigeria and Abia State for many years, and we believe that AfrICANDO has come to stay,” he said.

In her contribution, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Abia State Diaspora Commission, Rev. Ambassador Annie Onu, said the conference would provide local manufacturers with an opportunity to present detailed information about their products, their benefits and other relevant features to prospective buyers, particularly Nigerians in the diaspora.

She disclosed that the state’s 17 local government areas, ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) would showcase products at the event.