AfriCANDO 2026: Abia Targets Global Trade Hub, Plans Africa Trade Development Centre

Abia State is set to strengthen its position as an international trade and investment destination with plans to establish an Africa Trade Development Centre (ATDC), promote export opportunities and attract productive investments from the African diaspora through the AfriCANDO 2026, which is set to hold November 17 to 19.

The initiative, organised by the Foundation for Democracy in Africa in collaboration with the Abia Diaspora Commission and Abia Global Chamber of Commerce, seeks to strengthen commercial relations between African countries and the United States while promoting intra-African trade.

Speaking at a press conference, Dr Fred Oladeinde, the President of the Foundation for Democracy in Africa and Chairman of the AGOA Civil Society Organisation, commended Governor Alex Otti for providing the enabling environment that made it possible for AfriCANDO to come to Abia State, describing the development as an opportunity to showcase the state’s economic potential to the international community.

Dr Oladeinde explained that the foundation’s mission was to promote political democracy through economic freedom, with particular emphasis on empowering small and medium-scale enterprises, encouraging private-sector participation and working with governments to stimulate economic development.

He disclosed that one of the major objectives of the initiative was to mobilise diaspora communities to redirect at least 20 per cent of their remittances from household consumption into productive investments across African countries.

According to him, Africans in the diaspora contribute more financial resources to the continent than other development partners combined, making their involvement critical to Africa’s economic transformation.

He said the foundation was working with the Abia Diaspora Commission and Abia Global Chamber of Commerce to create investment opportunities that would enable diaspora investors to participate directly in businesses, industrial development and job creation.

He also identified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) as important platforms for expanding trade, strengthening regional supply chains and increasing access to international markets.

On his part, Mr James Ogbuka Umekwe, the Chairman of the Abia Global Chamber of Commerce, said the proposed Africa Trade Development Centre would provide a platform for facilitating trade, connecting businesses and helping local manufacturers access international markets.

He explained that the centre would support manufacturers, particularly in Aba, through product standardisation, capacity building and training on internationally accepted quality requirements.

He noted that the initiative would help local businesses overcome challenges associated with accessing foreign markets, adding that the objective was to enable Nigerian SMEs to trade directly with international partners without depending excessively on intermediaries.

He further disclosed that Africando would promote trade not only between Africa and the United States, the United Kingdom and other international markets but also among African countries through stronger continental economic cooperation.

Similarly, Dr Okey Agbara, Chairman of the Abia Diaspora Commission, expressed appreciation to Governor Otti for making the conference possible in Abia, acknowledging the contributions of the organisers and other stakeholders towards bringing the international initiative to the state.

He described the establishment of the Africa Trade Development Centre as a major objective of the programme, noting that its activities would help position Abia as a centre for trade facilitation, investment and industrial development.

James Ogbuka also highlighted the importance of establishing trade development centres and free continental trade zones across Africa, stressing that African countries must strengthen commercial relationships among themselves rather than concentrate solely on partnerships with Western economies.

He said Africando would create opportunities for businesses across the continent to explore new markets, build partnerships and expand their economic activities.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Rev. Dr Annie N. Onu, the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Secretary of the Abia State Diaspora Commission, described Africando as an opportunity to showcase the economic potential of the homeland to Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly by enabling them to understand and identify the products and investment opportunities available in the state.

He added that the initiative would also promote Abia’s hospitality and tourism sectors while strengthening the relationship between the state and its diaspora community.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue, Dr Emmanuel Okpechi, attributed the decision to bring Africando to the state to the ongoing transformation under Governor Otti’s administration.

He said the organisers were particularly interested in ensuring that Aba’s manufacturing base became a globally recognised brand, with locally produced goods meeting international standards and gaining wider acceptance in export markets.

Ubani Nkolika Cleopatra Esq., Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters, also emphasised the importance of inclusiveness, calling on legislators, parliamentarians, community organisations, civil society groups, private-sector operators and other stakeholders to participate actively in the initiative.

The organisers commended the Chief of Staff for his leadership of the conference Planning Committee and acknowledged the contributions of the Abia Diaspora Commission, particularly its Executive Secretary, Ambassador Annie, as well as other partners who supported the programme.

Africando 2026 is expected to bring together delegates from several African countries, international business representatives, investors and policymakers to explore trade opportunities, facilitate business matchmaking and strengthen economic cooperation.

The organisers expressed optimism that the initiative would move beyond conference discussions to deliver practical investment partnerships, improved export opportunities, job creation and sustainable economic benefits for Abia State and the African continent.