Abuja: The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ACCI, has pledged its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s economy by promoting and supporting key sectors such as agriculture, which significantly contributes to the nation’s GDP. This was emphasized by Dr. Emeka Obegolu, the President of the ACCI, during the inauguration of the inaugural Food and Allied Technologies FARMFATECH Expo. This event, organized by ACCI in collaboration with Autodex Nigeria Limited and other partners, took place in Abuja, Nigeria.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the primary goal of the expo is to highlight investment opportunities within the agro-allied sector, engage policymakers to bolster industry support, and advocate for policies that drive economic and individual growth. Dr. Obegolu described FARMFATECH as a pioneering, three-day expo aimed at fostering global partnerships, especially between Nigeria and China, as well as with other significant players in agricultural technology.
Dr. Nnamdi Ezeani, Chairman of Autodex Limit
ed, stated that the company has the capability to produce tractors and equipment essential for enhancing productivity in the agriculture sector. He noted that Autodex has achieved up to 23% local content by starting with semi-knocked down (SKD) units and is now capable of complete knockdown production. Over the past 12 years, the company has assembled 242 tractors and over 600 units of implements, offering destination services to provide on-site support at farms.
Mr. Eric Intong, Acting Group Managing Director of Client Relations at Afreximbank Group, highlighted during the event that African nations can fully leverage their agricultural resources by modernizing practices, investing in infrastructure, ensuring access to finance, supporting policy frameworks, and promoting regional trade cooperation. Afreximbank’s sixth strategic plan focuses on Industrialization and Export Development, which includes financing the importation and manufacturing of agricultural equipment, local manufacturing, and value-added e
xports. Mr. Intong emphasized that the plan aims to diversify and accelerate Africa’s trade transformation from reliance on primary commodities towards industrialization and export promotion. He reiterated Afreximbank’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to create an environment conducive to innovation and investment in agriculture, ultimately building resilient food systems that significantly contribute to economic development across the continent.