Umuahia, Nigeria – In a bid to strengthen economic ties between Nigeria and Vietnam, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr. Bui Quoc Hung, has engaged with the business communities in Abia State, discussing potential areas of collaboration.
During separate meetings with the Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (UCCIMA) and the Aba Chamber of Commerce (ACCIMA), Ambassador Hung emphasized the shared economic interests between Vietnam and Nigeria. He highlighted key sectors such as agriculture, textiles and garments, manufacturing, and electronics as potential areas of cooperation that could enhance productivity and economic growth.
“We have discussed some strong development areas like agriculture, manufacturing, textiles and garments, seafood, and electronics. Of course, we focused much on agriculture, textiles, and food production in Nigeria,” Ambassador Hung stated. “We believe that by working together, we can improve productivity, quality, quantity, and value chains.”
The Vietnamese envoy commended the administration of Governor Alex Otti for its openness to economic partnerships and extended an invitation to Abia business stakeholders to explore investment opportunities in Vietnam through trade expos and exhibitions.
Calls for Revitalization of Aba Textile Mill
Speaking at the meeting, the Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Kingsley Nwokocha, expressed optimism about the collaboration, noting that it holds great prospects for the economic growth of the state. His counterpart in the Industry and SMEs Ministry, Mr. Mike Akpara, urged the Vietnamese government to encourage investors to revive the Moribund Aba Textile Mill. He emphasized that the Aba textile market, which serves Nigeria and the broader West African sub-region, presents a lucrative opportunity for Vietnamese businesses.
“Vietnam has a strong track record in manufacturing and agriculture. Abia State is ready to collaborate with them in these sectors to boost our manufacturing industries and agribusiness,” Akpara said.
Business Community Optimistic About Partnership
Leaders of the business chambers in Umuahia and Aba welcomed the Vietnamese delegation, stressing the importance of marketing Abia State to international investors. They noted that the discussions identified promising areas of collaboration, including agriculture, manufacturing, textiles, and cashew nut production.
As part of the visit, the Vietnamese delegation toured key industrial sites in Abia State, including the Golden Guinea Brewery and Saclux Paint Industry in Umuahia, a cashew plantation in Umunneochi, the Moribund Aba Textile Mill, and the Ekeoha Textile Market Clusters in Aba.
The engagements are expected to pave the way for further business exchanges and investments between Abia State and Vietnam, fostering economic growth and development in both regions.
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