ABIA: Otti Aims For Billion-Dollar Fashion Industry In Aba As Okonjo-Iweala, Others Make Advisory Council

Abia State Governor Alex Otti Thursday inaugurated the Abia Global Economic Advisory Council (GEAC), aiming to transform the state into a leading global investment destination and turn Aba, the commercial capital of the state, into a billion-dollar hub for the fashion industry.

In his speech at the inauguration ceremony, Governor Otti said Aba’s shoemakers and fashion designers can compete with the best in the world, as Aba shoes and fashion items are already sold and worn with pride globally.

“Given the right support, our shoemakers and fashion designers can compete with the best anywhere in the world. Even with very little in terms of supporting ecosystem, Aba shoes and fashion items are sold and worn with pride by people in all parts of the world. Our conviction is that we can effortlessly turn the Abia fashion ecosystem into more than a billion dollar industry in only a few years if the right streams of investments can be attracted,” Otti said.

The governor expressed optimism that with the expertise of the GEAC members, the vision of transforming Aba into a billion-dollar fashion hub can be achieved within two years.

“I am optimistic that this Council can help us achieve that vision in the next 24 months,” he said.

Otti tasked the GEAC, made up of world-class professionals, entrepreneurs and thought leaders, to come up with practical solutions for attracting investments into Abia State.

The GEAC is chaired by former Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunma Oteh and co-chaired by former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and businessman Bolaji Balogun.

Its membership consists of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and 18 others.

Otti said beyond fashion, opportunities exist in Abia in agriculture, sports, tourism, transportation, real estate, and other sectors which can be unlocked to transform Abia into a leading business destination.

Otti stressed that his administration was committed to attracting investments that would create jobs and grow the state’s economy.

He noted, “We are not just seeking to attract a few big manufacturing outfits in the State to score cheap political points. No. Our ultimate goal is to re-make the entire State into a robust enterprise ecosystem with clear pathways to bigger global and regional markets.”

Elsewhere in his speech, Otti said “Our people are welcoming, peace loving and hungry for development. You would hardly find any community in Abia that is not open to new, genuine investment opportunities. All we had lacked before now is the political will to exploit our advantages to the fullest. Today marks the beginning of a new era.”