“When You Invest in Imo State, Your Capital Is Secure, Your Operational Policies Are Predictable, and Your Returns Are Structurally Supported”
The 17th National Council of Industry, Trade and Investment (NCITI) has ended in Enugu with the Imo State Government advocating stronger green industrial investment, robust support systems for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), increased local value addition and strategic public-private partnerships as pathways to enhancing competitiveness and achieving inclusive economic growth.
The three-day council meeting, held in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, brought together the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh; the host Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah; Commissioners from various states, captains of industry, investors and other distinguished delegates.
The conference deliberated extensively on critical issues affecting Nigeria's industrial, trade and investment sectors under the theme: “Enhancing Competitiveness in Industry, Trade and Investment for Inclusive Growth and Global Market Integration.”
Representing the Imo State Government at the council, the Honourable Commissioner for Industry, Mines and Solid Minerals, Barr. Jerry Egemba, described the timing of the conference as apt, stressing that the theme directly addressed some of the major challenges confronting Nigeria's industrial and economic development.
According to Egemba, the significance of the council meeting went beyond bringing stakeholders together, as it provided an opportunity for governments, the private sector and development partners to develop practical solutions to the challenges confronting industry, trade and investment.
He said the Imo State Government, under the 3R administration of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, views industry, mines and solid minerals not as parallel sectors, but as an interconnected and indispensable value chain.
He maintained that national competitiveness cannot be achieved in isolation, but depends on the deliberate harmonisation of resources and policies at both federal and subnational levels.
For Imo State, he said, the objective was to ensure that its industrial policies seamlessly support Nigeria's broader ambition of achieving global market integration.
“We are here to press that we agree to transform raw domestic potential into highly competitive, export-ready industrial output,” Egemba stated.
IMO ADVOCATES VALUE ADDITION TO SOLID MINERALS.
Speaking on subnational competitiveness and the linkage between solid minerals and industrial production, Egemba noted that African economies had, for decades, faced the paradox of possessing some of the world's richest mineral deposits while remaining at the lower end of global value chains.
He said the 17th NCITI provided an opportunity to reverse that trend by moving away from the export of raw and unprocessed resources towards aggressive in-country and in-state value addition.
According to him, Imo State is endowed with significant solid mineral resources, including high-grade clay, limestone, glass and premium silica sands, in addition to its oil and gas resources.
He explained that the state's strategic blueprint was shifting from basic extraction to primary and secondary processing, while aligning state policies with federal incentives such as tax holidays and capital allowances to attract major manufacturing investments closer to sources of raw materials.
“To build a globally competitive manufacturing sector, we must actively enforce aggressive in-country and in-state value addition,” he said.
Egemba explained that integrating solid mineral development with industrial clusters would help reduce production costs, provide locally processed mineral inputs for domestic industries, reduce dependence on foreign exchange for imported raw materials and strengthen local supply chains against disruptions in global shipping and logistics.
He also stressed the importance of product quality and standards, noting that collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) would help ensure that products manufactured in Imo State meet international benchmarks before being exported.
INFRASTRUCTURE, DIGITAL INNOVATION AND LOGISTICS.
The Commissioner further stated that industrial competitiveness required more than abundant natural resources, stressing the importance of infrastructure, digital innovation and an efficient operating environment.
He said the Imo State Government was investing in the structural foundation required to strengthen trade and industrial activities through targeted public-private frameworks designed to improve the ease of doing business.
A major component of the state's strategy, according to him, is the development of the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, as a strategic logistics gateway for high-value manufacturing and non-oil exports.
He added that the development of agro-processing zones and industrial hubs, supported by reliable electricity and modern road infrastructure, would enable businesses to produce efficiently and move their goods rapidly to domestic and international markets.
Egemba also emphasized the importance of digital transformation in modern trade, noting that Imo State was promoting digital literacy and technology-enabled ecosystems for MSMEs.
He said local startups and entrepreneurs would be encouraged to leverage initiatives such as the iDICE Growth Lab to access capital, develop digital logistics networks and scale innovative solutions.
“Our goal is clear: to ensure that a manufacturer in Owerri or an artisan in Okigwe can seamlessly manage inventories and close transactions with cross-border partners via integrated e-commerce platforms,” he said.
IMO OPENS DOORS TO INVESTORS
On investor confidence, solid mineral incentives and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Egemba said attracting sustainable capital required regulatory certainty and a business-friendly environment.
He stated that the Imo State Government had taken steps to streamline investment processes and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks through an automated land administration system and a unified investment promotion framework.
He therefore invited local and international investors to take advantage of the state's readiness to support genuine investments in the industrial and solid minerals sectors.
Among the incentives highlighted were a strong subnational security framework for industrial assets and mining sites, state-level tax considerations for industries that create local employment and value-addition opportunities, as well as structured equity-sharing partnerships through PPP arrangements.
He said the state was particularly interested in partnering with the organized private sector to establish modern mineral processing plants, ceramic manufacturing factories and localized energy hubs that would harness Imo's natural gas and other resources.
Egemba declared: “When you invest in Imo State, your capital is secure, your operational policies are predictable, and your returns are structurally supported.”
INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND AfCFTA READINESS.
The Commissioner also placed strong emphasis on inclusive growth, describing it as the ultimate measure of industrial competitiveness.
According to him, a thriving industrial sector must translate into sustainable employment opportunities for young people, greater economic participation for women, improved livelihoods for host communities and broader prosperity at the grassroots.
He said the state's strategy for developing its solid minerals and MSME ecosystems was deliberately designed to distribute economic opportunities across communities.
Egemba noted that rural miners, community cooperatives, artisans, entrepreneurs and larger industrial players must all have a place in the state's economic development agenda.
He maintained that such localized economic resilience would strengthen Nigeria's capacity to compete successfully within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market.
IMO CALLS FOR BOLD AND EXECUTION-FOCUSED POLICIES.
At the council, the Imo State Government urged stakeholders to adopt policies that are bold, practical and execution-focused, particularly those capable of translating Nigeria's abundant natural and human resources into measurable economic value.
Egemba called for the adoption of strategic memoranda before the council, including frameworks for green industrial investment and MSME support systems, describing them as essential tools for achieving sustainable and inclusive industrialisation.
He stressed that Nigeria must move beyond policy formulation to effective implementation, collaboration and measurable outcomes.
The Commissioner further reaffirmed the readiness of the Imo State Government to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, sister states, organised private sector players and international development partners to advance industrialisation, trade and investment.
He said the state's objective remains to build a competitive industrial ecosystem where natural resources are processed locally, businesses can thrive, MSMEs can scale, jobs are created and locally produced goods are positioned to compete effectively in regional and global markets.
The 17th National Council of Industry, Trade and Investment therefore ended with a renewed call for stronger federal-state collaboration, green industrial development, increased local value addition, MSME empowerment and investment-driven infrastructure as critical pathways towards achieving Nigeria's ambition of inclusive growth and global market integration.
Report Compiled by Fredrick Njoku