Abia State Government has concluded plans to unveil its Aba Export Lab to provide a platform for export development within the state and for economic rejuvenation of the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday in Umuahia, stating that the Export Lab is a major initiative under the growth exports pillar of Governor Alex Otti’s economic rejuvenation agenda.
According to him, “The commissioning of this Export Lab signals a strategic shift towards export-led industrialisation drive in Abia State, which Aba has been at the forefront as the state’s industrial and innovation hub.
“The primary purpose of the Export Lab is the provision of a platform for export development within the state.
“This lab will provide targeted interactions to help businesses identify viable international markets for products manufactured or made in Abia State, assess and strengthen their internal capabilities while initiating export activities”.
The commissioner, who said that the programme was designed to run for six months in the first instance, informed that in this first phase, several carefully selected and qualified businesses will be chosen as pilots.
He added that during the period, there would be export readiness training and sensitisation for companies involved, development of tailored export strategies and roadmaps, and capacity building in marketing, compliance, logistics, and operations.
He said there will also be facilitation of need generation and market trials, performance evaluation, and impact assessment to inform future scale-up.
The event, he said, would aim to deliver export strategies, verify market needs, and initiate export transactions for about 20 or more Aba-based businesses that are primarily targeted in the African market.
The commissioner disclosed that the programme, which is done in partnership with some development partners, including the UNDP, would hopefully result in significant improvements in internal business capabilities, including pricing, product adaptation, packaging, production management, and international certifications, among others.
He informed that the strategic focus areas would be on products that offer clear strategic advantages and self-established markets, like the Akwete clothes, footwear (oil and gas industry, construction, and industrial sectors), and apparel for African diaspora markets.
He pointed out, “It (Akwete) is a geographical indication product, a product of origin with protected cultural and commercial identity.
“It is a product that the state is willing to take to the world, and it will form one of the focus products that businesses that are involved in the production will feature in the Export Lab”.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Industry and SMEs, Mike Akpara explained that what the government is trying to do is to activate what Aba is known for, stating, “Before now, we called Aba the Japan of Africa.
“What it means is that we can produce anything.
“A lot of things come up from Aba, but in branding, they will now write made in Japan, made in Brazil, and whatever for lack of confidence.
“So what the Export Growth Lab is going to do is to instill confidence into the producers.
“They will also be taught how to package their goods to meet international standards.
“It is very important that they do that because that is the only way the goods can compete favourably in the international markets.
” So these are part of the thing the Export Growth Lab is going to do,” Akpara said.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Mr. Odinakachi Emeh, and the Principal Secretary and Chief Strategist Officer of the state, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzukwu, affirmed that the state is partnering with UNDP, UNIDO, and other development partners to boost the businesses in Aba and restore Aba to the economic hub it is known for.
He added that Aba is a known brand in itself, while the government is providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive and would provide employment opportunities.
