Gov Otti commissions Aba Export Growth Lab

From Henrietta Ashikodi, Umuahia

The government of Abia State, has  unveiled and commissioned the Aba Export Growth Lab aimed  at boosting  quality production  and provide a platform for export development within the state.

The governor, Dr Alex Otti stated this during the official launch of the

Aba Export Growth Lab Complex,  located in the premises of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, He noted that  Aba has always needed a whole lot more support, than it has been gettiing for decades.

The governor stressed that the essence of commissioning the Aba Export Growth Lab is to support entrepreneurs in the state to structure their production, standardise and package them in a way that the products would be competitive in the global market.

“So, what we have come here to do is to support our people to structure their production, standardize, package and brand their products in such a way that it will be competitive in the international market.

“And you know the international market is not deceived. So, even what we are doing here today, they know.

“By the time you finish packaging your product, if it meets the standards, they will buy. And yourself, you will be convinced that you have done enough work to support that product to be sold outside the shelves of this country.

“That’s the way the market is structured. And if you cannot compete globally, don’t even try because you will just waste your time. And history records that, there are a lot of countries, including Japan, that developed after the war through export.

“We are not saying, don’t import. That’s not a bad thing. But, we are saying that the things that we are producing in Aba and Abia, that we can sell them beyond the borders of Aba and Abia, Gov. Otti explained.

The Governor challenged the managers of the project not to compromise quality, but to uphold standards, and reitereted the need for them to fail any product that is sub-standard and ensure that  specifications are maintained, explaining that, his government has no interest in making money from the project, but to support and uplift the entrepreneurs in the state.

He further disclosed,”It must be done right. And any product that does not pass the test, don’t be sympathetic. Fail it, so that we can start afresh and get it to such a specification that we have defined.

“So, for those who are in one way or the other, associated with the export growth lab, the output should be second to none. It would be sad, if you have passed a product and the product fails the test elsewhere. And, we also have our way of checking.

“We don’t require money as government from here. So, if anybody is coming to tell you, oh!, government wants to make money, it’s not true because it’s not a money- making investment for the state. This is our own support to our people; the micro, small and medium scale enterprises.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Industry and SMEs, Mazi Mike Akpara, revealed that the Aba Export Growth Lab is established to create a pathway for Aba and Abia businesses to gain access to the global market.

He disclosed that the project is expected to empower entrepreneurs to be visible in the global market, and is targeting 20 businesses as pilot, while it is focusing on three areas, including, Akwete cloth, footwear and fashion apparels.

Contributing, the UNDP Resident Representative, Ms Elsie Attafuah, saluted the visionary leadership of Governor Otti, which led to the project initiative and described it as a laudable one.

While assuring the commitment of UNDP to the project,  she said that Abia can lead Africa’s industrial renaissance, pointing out that, the Southeast can rise as a regional corridor of productivity, investments, and jobs through the project.

In a goodwill message, the Representative of NEXIM Bank, Mrs. Nkeiru Ezenwanne expressed their full support to the administration of Governor Alex Otti towards the growth and creation of sustainable jobs by focusing on key value chain such as, agro – processing, manufacturing, garment, leather and pharmaceuticals.

She said that the bank is committed to supporting initiatives that would drive export diversification and economic growth in line with its mandate to facilitate the diversification of Nigerian foreign exchange earners through export finance provision, credit guarantee and export insurance, fund Management and export advisory services to exporters.