Abia Partners Poland, Bulgaria to Grow Strategic Sectors in State

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Abia State government has opened its doors to enter into economic partnership with Poland and Bulgaria in order to enhance the development of the state.

Governor Alex Otti expressed Abia’s disposition to robust economic collaborations with the two European nations when he received their Ambassadors on separate official visits to the state.

The Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Joan Tarnawska, with her delegation was the first that visited while her Bulgarian counterpart, Yanko Yardonov, also came with his delegation.

While the delegation from Poland were interested in partnering Abia in the area of agriculture, mining, education and culture, Bulgaria was attracted to agriculture,  trade, education and human capital development.

Otti, who was elated by the interest shown in Abia by the two countries, said his government would welcome any partnership that could lead to the growth of the state’s economy.

“There can’t be a better state to partner with than Abia, and I say that for a lot of reasons,” Otti told the Polish delegation.

He specifically stated that, “our dreams are very big” in such sectors as agriculture and education, hinting that Abia was desirous of exporting skilled workers.

“Our people are very creative, very innovative, very focused. They produce virtually everything; they may not be as sophisticated as those in Europe but they work,” Otti added.

The Polish Ambassador, who disclosed that the visit was her first to the South-east of Nigeria, said there was a lot that can be done together between Nigeria and Poland.

“Nigeria is a country of great opportunities and potentials. We would like to tap into that potential and look for new avenues of cooperation between Poland and Nigeria ,and in particular your state,” she told the Abia governor.

Tarnawska, recalled that the President of Poland visited Nigeria last year during which, “we signed an MoU on cooperation, agriculture and I hope that we can on this basis develop even closer ties with Nigeria and with Abia State.”

Meanwhile, Otti told the Bulgarian delegation that, “the government we have in Abia State right now is a very serious government, focused on delivering good governance to our people.”

He said Bulgaria has come at the right time to assist Abia grow its economy, adding that he was satisfied with the areas the Bulgarian government has chosen to intervene in Abia.

The Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, said the delegation was in the State to seek collaboration with Abia in order to boost agriculture, trade, education and human capital development.

“In more concrete terms, the project we wish to bring to your attention will be offering comprehensive understanding about the need to develop, not only economic ties, but also the people to people exchange,” Yordanov said.

“Abia State is widely known as a State where all the opportunities exist. This is why my country and private investors desire to collaborate and develop partnership with Your Excellency,” he added.