ABA EXPORT LAB AND THE QUEST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

By Emeka Nwosu, PhD.

Abia State, under the superintendence of Governor Alex Otti, is making remarkable progress on all fronts. Apart from the major strides being made in road constructions, urban renewal, revamping of the educational and health sectors, regular payment of salaries, gratuities and pensions, and general infrastructural development, the Otti-led administration is now poised to reposition the State for international economic development.

Recently, the government disclosed that it has concluded plans to unveil its Aba Export Lab to provide a platform for export development within the state and for economic rejuvenation of Abia. The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu stated on Monday in Umuahia, the state capital, that the Export Lab is a major initiative under the growth pillar of Governor Otti`s economic revival agenda.

According to him, “The commissioning of this Export Lab signals a strategic shift towards export-led industrialization 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”.

Continuing, the Commissioner said: “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”.
Kanu, 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 would be chosen as pilots. He added that during the period, there would be export readiness training and sensitization for the companies involved, development of tailored export strategies and roadmaps, and capacity building in marketing, compliance, logistics and operations.

It is also planned that there would be facilitation of needs generation and market trials, performance evaluation, and impact assessment to inform future scale-up. The export lab initiative is intended 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 Honourable Commissioner disclosed that the programme, which is being done in partnership with some development partners, including the UNDP and UNIDO, would hopefully result in significant improvements in internal business capabilities, including pricing, product adaptation, packaging, production management , and international certification, among others.

The government, it is revealed, is focusing attention on products that offer clear strategic advantages and selfl-established markets, like the popular Akwete cloths, and footwears, for which Aba is renowned.
The export lab initiative is seen as a well-intended programme aimed at opening up the economic space of the state to international economic community.

Aba has a global reputation for industry and innovation. It has a vibrant population that is actively engaged in industrial production, manufacturing, fabrications, innovations and technology. A lot of goods and products are manufactured or fabricated in Aba. That is why the bustling city is regarded as the “Japan of Africa”.

With this initiative of the Otti administration, the people of Aba now have an opportunity to export their products to the rest of the world and earn scarce foreign exchange to improve on their production and expand their businesses. The move would also enable them to acquire the necessary confidence to market their products as Made-in-Aba, rather than affixing fake labels suggesting that they are made in Europe or Asia.

The Commissioner for Industry and SMEs, Mr. Mike Akpara also reiterated the point by saying that “what the Export Growth Lab is going to do is to instill confidence into the producers.”
He continued: “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 things the Export Growth Lab is going to do.”

It is believed that this step which the government has taken would help to boost the businesses in Aba and restore the city to its former glory as the economic hub of Eastern Nigeria. There is no doubt that this audacious move would create a lot of employment opportunities, ultimately leading to the economic empowerment and prosperity of the people.
May Abia continue to prevail!

Dr. Nwosu, a Public Affairs Analyst, writes from Umuahia.
Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com