Igbo traders must move beyond Chinese competition – Otti
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged Igbo traders to move beyond conventional trading and focus on manufacturing and digital commerce to compete in the changing global economy. Otti said this on Monday in Umuahia during the Igbo Day Lecture and Dinner organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide with the theme, “The Igbo Charter and Development of Ala Igbo.” The governor said Abia and Ndigbo, historically known for trading, were deliberately shifting their focus towards manufacturing and technology-driven commerce. Reflecting on concerns over the increasing presence of Chinese traders competing with Igbo entrepreneurs in retail businesses in Lagos, Otti said the response was to move beyond that level of trading. He said, “We are leaving that level of trading. In Abia, we have markets. The markets are important. But we are moving from that level of marketing to manufacturing.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google “So, this government is supporting manufacturing and driving digital delivery. We are leaving that physical store for digital delivery. So, when somebody talked about Alibaba, that is exactly where we are headed.” Alitheia Capital backs financing for women-led businesses Mbah calls for unity as Okorocha donates secretariat to Ohanaeze Why I sued Abia NDC over Senate ticket – Aspirant Otti said digital commerce would enable Abia entrepreneurs to compete globally rather than remain dependent on conventional physical markets. He said, “So, why are the Chinese coming to compete with us? We are moving away from there. And it’s going to start in Abia. “So, Abia is both manufacturing and trading. But we are moving from conventional trading to digital trading. That is where the world is going. You either embrace it, or you risk being left behind.” The governor said his administration was investing heavily in digital skills for young people, noting that some Abians trained under its TechRise initiative were already working for global technology companies from Aba. Otti, who assured the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo of his administration’s support, described the theme of the celebration, “Njikọ Ka” – translated as “Unity is Supreme” – as apt, saying it reflected the importance of unity in diversity. He said his administration had laid a solid foundation for the development of the state, assuring that Abia would continue to witness significant transformation. Sunday Nwakanma Sunday Nwakanma is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over 25 years of professional experience in reporting. He is based in Abia State and has worked across local, regional, and national newspapers, covering a wide range of public affairs issues. Sunday’s work reflects extensive newsroom experience, multiple professional recognitions, and a strong commitment to press freedom and responsible journalism.
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