Benue State shows export, industrialization and investments …

Benue State attracted global attention to the just aware intra-African fair (Iatf 2025) in Algiers, Algeria, where he revealed his bold agenda for the expansion of exports, industrialization and promotion of investments.

Benue State’s governor, Rev. P. Dr. Hyacinth Irmem alia, represented by the special consultant for the international and global partnership, Zaki Asen, presented the vision of the state for sustainable growth anchored to agriculture, mining resources and industrial development.

Zaki highlighted Benue’s position as a “nation basket” of Nigeria, underlining his role as a larger soy manufacturer of the country, together with ignore, citrus fruits, mango, tomatoes, oil palm and pepper.

He explained that the government was strategically positioning these products for exports within the African continental free trade area (AFCFTA), with particular attention to international standards and certification.

To guide this ambition, the Governor Alia, according to Zaki, was creating an export facilitation desk in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (Nepc).

The desk, said, would guarantee that Benue products meet the global quality requirements, open a wider access to African and international markets.

Zaki also underlined the governor alia’s efforts to place Benue firmly on the global investment map.

He noticed the recent launch of the investment and economy summit of Benue International and the creation of the Benue Investment Promotion Agency (Bipa) as deliberate steps to attract investors.

“Together, these initiatives will provide a single facilitation service, offering incentives as tax breaks, access to the territory and regulatory support for companies.

“Through the investment and economic summit, its excellence has created a window for the world to see Benue’s vast potential,” said Zaki.

He added: “We are inviting global players to collaborate with us in the construction of a new economy for our people”.

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On the regional collaboration, he confirmed the governor alia plans to strengthen commercial corridors and harmonize policies with neighboring states, including Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi and Cross River.

These efforts, he said, would include joint and logistical processing hubs to reduce bottlenecks and increase competitiveness.

Moving on to mineral resources, he described gold, lithium, limestone, coal, barite, precious stones and rises as “hidden resources” that the government was opening up for responsible extraction and value -added processing.

Even the parks and agro-industrial clusters, he added, have been developed to create jobs, improve the addition of value and diversify state revenues.

“AFCFTA is a turning point and Benue is ready to seize the opportunities it offers. Agriculture, minerals and industrialization will form the pillars of a new Benue economy which is resilient, inclusive and competitive globally,” he said.

At the fifth AFSNET conference (AFSNET) of the Fair of the Fair was held next to the fair, Zaki ensured to investors of the governor’s commitment to the creation of a safe, profitable and sustainable environment for businesses.

He stressed that the administration was determined to transform Benue’s narration from one of the challenges to one of the opportunities and resilience.

The IATF 2025, organized by Afreximbank in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Afcfta secretariat, has hosted over 1,600 exhibitors and over 35,000 participants, cementing its place as the largest African platform for trade and promotion of investments.

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