A recent high-level Nigeria-India Textile Business-to-Business (B2B) engagement and policy roundtable in Abuja focused on reviving Nigeria’s textile industry and enhancing industrial ties with India. Private sector leaders and trade partners from both nations outlined strategies to boost job creation and Nigeria’s textile exports in collaboration with India. India’s role as a key partner in machinery supply, textile technology, skills development, and manufacturing investment was emphasized during the meeting.
The participants proposed establishing textile processing clusters in Nigeria’s cotton-producing regions like Katsina and Zamfara States, in partnership with Indian industrial hubs in Surat, Tiruppur, and Coimbatore. They also suggested an industrial partnership with India as a model for technology transfer and value chain development. Discussions included training programs, virtual trade linkages, and business-to-business matchmaking between Nigerian distributors and Indian manufacturers.
Key figures such as Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) President Jani Ibrahim and Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Emeka Obegolu, along with Indian trade representatives, attended the meeting. Ibrahim expressed concerns about Nigeria’s textile industry decline despite strong domestic demand, attributing it to import competition and declining exports. He advocated redirecting import funds to support local cotton farmers, textile manufacturers, designers, and small businesses.
Emphasizing Nigeria’s strong fundamentals like a large population, a growing fashion industry, and a robust entrepreneurial base, Ibrahim highlighted the potential for industry growth. The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry underscored the need to mobilize funds for women-owned businesses. Obegolu pointed out the importance of women-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in job creation and innovation, noting existing challenges in credit access due to high interest rates and stringent lending criteria.
