Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has expressed his administration’s keen interest in collaborating with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam across various economic sectors, including trade, commerce, and agriculture.
Governor Otti who made this known while hosting the Vietnamese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Bui Quoc Hung, who led a delegation on a courtesy visit, highlighted several potential areas where Vietnam could partner with the state to drive economic growth.
The Governor emphasized his government’s commitment to reviving dormant industries, particularly the Aba Textile Mills, and noted that Vietnam’s expertise could be instrumental in this effort.
To further explore collaboration opportunities, Governor Otti instructed the Abia Commissioner for Industries to accompany the Vietnamese delegation on a tour of the state, allowing them to identify specific areas for investment and partnership.
Expressing gratitude to Ambassador Hung for showing interest in investing in Abia, Governor Otti remained optimistic that such cooperation could breathe new life into struggling industries across the state.
In his remarks, Ambassador Bui Quoc Hung acknowledged Abia’s economic potential, particularly in agriculture, textiles, crude oil, and gas. He expressed Vietnam’s willingness to strengthen trade relations with the state in these key sectors.
He reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to fostering a robust bilateral relationship with Abia, aiming to enhance import and export activities for mutual economic benefit.
Ambassador Hung also disclosed that during his stay in Abia, he planned to visit various sites in Umuahia and Aba, as well as engage with the chambers of commerce in both cities to discuss trade prospects.
He further lauded Governor Otti for his style of leadership, which he said has positioned Abia on the global stage. He noted that apart from Lagos, Abia is the only state in Nigeria he has visited, underscoring its growing significance.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, members of the state executive council, top government officials were present during the meeting while the delegation were later conducted round the National War Museum Umuahia in company of the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Digital Economy, Mr Mathew Ekwuruibe.
