Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has embarked on a significant investment mission to Vienna, Austria. During his visit, he engaged in high-level discussions with top Austrian government officials, business leaders, and international development partners, culminating in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at the development of Enugu State.
Governor Mbah, who is on a mission to elevate Enugu’s economy from its current $4.4 billion to $30 billion within the next four to eight years, focused on attracting private sector investments and fostering strategic partnerships.
He held key meetings with Austrian Interior Minister Gehard Karner, Labour and Commerce Minister Dr. Martin Kocher, Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig, Austrian Promotional Bank Managing Director Bernhard Sagmeister, and Michael Spindelegge, Director-General of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), among other parliamentarians and officials.
Read also:
- NUPRC projects oil output surge to 2.5m bpd by 2026
- Nigeria showcases creative leadership at ICOM Dubai 2025
- Apply Now: Création Africa supports creative entrepreneurs
- Government suspends new fuel import tariff
- Nigeria MSMEs adopt digital tools to boost growth
Expressing their willingness to collaborate, the Austrian officials showed a strong interest in mutual benefits for both regions. In his meeting with Minister Karner, Governor Mbah discussed opportunities for Austrian SMEs in Nigeria and signed an MoU to establish a K-9 training unit in Enugu, aimed at enhancing security and crime detection.
Governor Mbah’s discussions with Minister Totschnig centered on implementing an agricultural model region in Enugu, spanning 2,000 to 5,000 hectares, inspired by Austria’s cooperative success.
Meanwhile, his dialogue with Minister Kocher highlighted expanding business collaboration between Austria and Nigeria, particularly in agriculture, hydro power, and semiconductor knowledge, leveraging the existing Austrian business presence at the European Business Park in Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu.
“Enugu is open for business. We are your trusted partner in Nigeria and a gateway for Austrian businesses seeking a foothold in Africa,” Governor Mbah declared.
Bernhard Sagmeister, Managing Director of the Austrian Promotional Bank, noted that the bank is already supporting Austrian businesses in Enugu and is keen to explore further opportunities. The bank is interested in providing guarantees for Austrian investments and helping the Enugu State government devise innovative foreign funding strategies.
Governor Mbah also toured the Spittelau waste incineration plant, which processes 250,000 tonnes of municipal waste annually and generates substantial electricity for Vienna, showcasing his commitment to learning from Austria’s advanced waste management and energy generation practices.
Discover more from SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
