…KACCIMA seeks investment in manufacturing, agro-processing and pharmaceuticals
By Gloria Ikibah 
The President of the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), Ambassador Usman Darma, has said Kano State is positioning itself as Indonesia’s gateway to Africa, as it seeks to attract Indonesian investors and industrial firms to Nigeria.
Darma, who spoke in an interview on the sidelines of the 41st Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) 2026 in BSD City, Tangerang, said Kano had brought a delegation of more than 100 business representatives to strengthen commercial ties and explore investment opportunities.
“This is not the first time we are coming, but this time we came with a very high delegation of over 100. About 60 are already on ground and the other 40 will arrive between tomorrow and next,” he said.
He said the delegation comprised businesspeople from manufacturing, retail, pharmaceuticals and other sectors, all seeking Indonesian investors and technical partners to support industrial growth in Kano and Nigeria.
“Our main focus is how we can encourage indigenous Indonesian companies to come to Nigeria, especially Kano, to establish more industries because we believe it is an advantage for all of us,” Darma stated.
He identified access to a large regional market and affordable labour as major attractions for Indonesian businesses considering investment in Kano.
“We have a market that reaches almost 26 out of 54 countries in the continent. And also we have the cheapest labour in the whole of Africa. Secondly, we are the most accommodating people in the continent,” he said.
Darma said Kano was open to investment across several sectors but that KACCIMA was particularly promoting opportunities in 13 priority areas, including light manufacturing and agro-processing.
He said the state’s agricultural output offered opportunities for Indonesian companies to establish processing facilities, serve Nigeria’s domestic market and export finished products to other African countries and beyond.
“There is a lot of agricultural produce. It is good for them to come to Kano to process, sell locally and re-export to the continent and around the world,” he explained.
Pharmaceuticals, manufacturing top investment agenda
The KACCIMA president also identified pharmaceuticals as a promising area for cooperation, noting that some Indonesian pharmaceutical companies exhibiting at TEI 2026 had products in high demand in Nigeria.
He said partnerships that enabled local assembly or production can reduce dependence on imports while creating opportunities for businesses in both countries.
Darma expressed optimism that the trade engagements will translate into concrete investments, with Indonesian companies establishing operations in Nigeria before the next trade expo in Kano.
Reflecting on the recent Indonesian Trade Expo organised in Kano by the Indonesian Embassy, he described the event as “very excellent”, citing the response from local buyers and the sales recorded by participating firms.
“They saw the turnout of people. A lot of them who came with samples sold them out and got buyers. By next year, I think it will be greater than what they did before,” he said.
He added that the turnout demonstrated the commercial potential of the Nigerian market and could encourage more Indonesian companies to explore opportunities in the country.
Trade Expo targets $17.5bn in transactions
Darma spoke on the sidelines of TEI 2026, which brought together international buyers and businesses to explore trade and investment opportunities with Indonesian companies.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto welcomed more than 8,092 foreign buyers from 134 countries to the expo, with organisers setting a transaction target of $17.5 billion.
Kano’s participation reflects efforts to expand Nigeria’s economic ties with Indonesia beyond the exchange of goods to include industrial investment, technology transfer and local production.
For KACCIMA, the priority is to turn the growing commercial interest into partnerships that establish industries, create jobs and strengthen Kano’s role as a centre for trade across Nigeria and the wider African market.
