Precious Nwonu, Enugu

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, is seeking to attract American and other international investors to the state through the 2026 African Diaspora Conference and Expo, AFRICANDO, scheduled to hold this month.

The initiative is expected to bring together investors, business executives, policymakers, development partners, diplomats and entrepreneurs to explore business opportunities and strengthen commercial ties between Africa and the United States.

The governor’s Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, disclosed the plan in a statement issued to journalists on Sunday, describing AFRICANDO as an opportunity to convert international engagements into concrete investments and business partnerships.

According to him, the conference, themed “Deepening U.S.–Africa Commercial Ties in the Era of AfCFTA,” will connect investment opportunities across Abia and other African markets with American capital, technology, expertise and distribution networks.

Ajagba said the state’s manufacturing and entrepreneurial base, particularly in Aba, places it in a strong position to benefit from expanded trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

He noted that the Otti administration was investing in infrastructure, strengthening public institutions and improving the business environment to attract private-sector investment.

The state government also plans to take international delegates on visits to manufacturing clusters, businesses, strategic economic locations and government-backed projects to enable them to assess investment opportunities directly.

Ajagba said the conference would focus on sectors including agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, consumer goods, energy, financial services, healthcare, transportation and logistics, science and technology, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

A major component of the event will be a Deal Room and Investment Marketplace, where prospective investors will be presented with investment-ready projects from Abia and participating businesses.

He stressed that AFRICANDO was an international economic platform hosted by Abia, rather than an event limited to the state, adding that the government was working with organisers to ensure it produces business agreements and sustainable partnerships beyond conference discussions.