South-East States Pursue Regional Industrial Cooperation Following Enugu Economic Forum

Governors of the South-East Nigeria have advanced discussions on regional industrial cooperation following an Inter State Economic Cooperation Forum held in Enugu, Enugu State, in late November 2025. The forum was convened under the auspices of the South-East Governors Forum and hosted by the Government of Enugu State as part of a renewed effort to coordinate economic development strategies across the region.

The meeting brought together the governors of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States, alongside commissioners responsible for economic planning, trade, industry, transport, and infrastructure. Also in attendance were senior officials from state investment promotion agencies, representatives of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, chambers of commerce from across the region, and selected leaders of the organized private sector.

According to the communique issued after the forum, the objective was to examine practical pathways for harmonizing industrial policy, pooling infrastructure investments, and jointly positioning the South-East as an integrated manufacturing and logistics corridor. Discussions focused on reducing structural bottlenecks that limit scale, increase production costs, and weaken the regions competitiveness.

In an interview following the forum, one of the participating governors explained that the meeting was convened to move beyond informal consultations toward structured cooperation. He stated that “the forum was designed to align priorities across states and to agree on a shared economic direction. The South-East has strong commercial capacity, but fragmented planning has limited its industrial impact.”

Data presented during the forum, drawn from National Bureau of Statistics publications and state investment agencies, showed that while the South-East accounts for a significant share of small and medium scale enterprises, its contribution to national manufacturing output remains disproportionately low. Analysts at the forum attributed this gap to inadequate industrial clustering, high logistics costs, and inconsistent regulatory environments across state boundaries.

Commissioners for economic planning from multiple states noted that manufacturers operating within the region often face duplicated approvals and uneven infrastructure quality. One commissioner stated that “the same investor can face five different regulatory processes within a single region. This discourages scale and raises costs. Harmonization is therefore an economic necessity.”

Private sector participants echoed these concerns. A representative of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria told the forum that transport and logistics costs within the South-East remain a major constraint. He noted that “moving goods between neighbouring states in the region can be more expensive than moving them across longer national corridors. Coordinated infrastructure planning would significantly improve efficiency.”

The forum also examined labour and skills development, with commissioners for education and youth development highlighting the need for shared vocational and technical training centers. Data reviewed at the meeting indicated persistent youth unemployment despite strong informal economic activity, underscoring the need for structured industrial employment pathways.

At the conclusion of the Enugu meeting, the governors agreed to establish a regional technical committee composed of senior officials from participating states and representatives of the private sector. The committee has been mandated to develop a South-East regional industrial cooperation roadmap, identifying priority projects, financing models, and governance arrangements.

Economic analysts observing the process noted that the Enugu forum marked a shift toward more institutionalized regional collaboration. They cautioned, however, that implementation discipline and continuity would determine whether the initiative translates into measurable industrial growth.

If sustained, the outcomes of the Inter State Economic Cooperation Forum could reposition the South-East as a coordinated manufacturing and logistics hub, capable of attracting investment, generating employment, and strengthening its contribution to national economic development.

(Report by: Samuel Odebowale)