Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, will on the 8th day of July formally commission the Aba Export Lab to provide a platform for export development within the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday at a press conference held in Government House, Umuahia. He said that the Export Lab is a major initiative under the growth exports pillar of Governor Alex Otti’s economic rejuvenation agenda.
“The commissioning of this Export Lab signals a strategic shift towards an export-led industrialisation drive in Abia State, which Aba had 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,” Prince Kanu stated.
The Commissioner, who said that the programme is designed to run for six months in the first instance, informed that in this first phase, a number of 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, capacity building in marketing, compliance, logistics, and operations. as well as facilitation of need generation and market trials, performance evaluation and impact assessment to inform future scale-up.
He revealed that the event would aim to deliver export strategies, verify market needs, and initial export transactions for about 20 or more Aba-based businesses that are primarily targeted in the African market.
Prince Kanu said 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.
For criteria for the selection of about 20 or more businesses for the pilot export, the Commissioner pointed out that they include; business presence in Aba, export readiness, leadership commitment, export team among others.
He further added that the strategic focus areas would be on products that offer clear strategic advantages and self-established markets, saying that the number one in this instance would be the Akwete clothes.
“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.
“Number two will be about footwear and apparel. So in this wise, the footwear will be those that those in oil and gas industry, construction and industrial sectors will make use of.
“Number three, apparel for African diaspora markets. Focus will be to assist fashion businesses to factor products for culturally resonance and global competitive markets, Prince Kanu explained.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Industry and SMEs, Mazi Mike Akpara explained that what the government is trying to do is to activate what Aba is known for.
“Before now, we call Aba the Japan of Africa. What it means is that we can produce anything. We want to produce there in Aba .
“And the point is that, yes, 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 instil confidence into the producers.
They will be taught also 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.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Mr. Odinakachi Emeh and
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, adding that Aba is a known brand on itself.
They noted that the government is providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive, adding that the Export Lab would provide employment opportunities.
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