On August 3, 2026, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, delivered the keynote address at the 2026 Delta State Economic and Investment Summit held in Asaba, Nigeria. Speaking on the theme “Harnessing Our Strengths, Unlocking Our Potential,” she declared that Delta State possesses the necessary economic ingredients to rival Lagos and become Nigeria’s next major industrial and investment hub. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala strongly endorsed the Delta State Government’s newly launched $100 million Viability Gap Fund. She described it as an excellent, necessary mechanism to de-risk private capital and assure global investors that the state is ready to convert verbal pledges into bankable projects.
Unlocking Vital Growth Sectors
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala outlined a blueprint for the state to diversify away from oil and gas by targeting major global and domestic trade trends
· The Blue Economy: She strongly advocated for expanding aquaculture, fish processing, cold storage, and sustainable fisheries. She pointed out that Nigeria spends nearly $1 billion ($866 million) annually importing seafood, a massive demand that Delta State can comfortably fulfill internally.
· Natural Gas Clusters: She urged the state to rapidly deploy its massive gas reserves to directly power specialized manufacturing and industrial zones, noting that stable electricity is mandatory for any real industrialization.
· Deep-Sea Ports: She identified coastal locations like Burutu and Koko as highly viable geographic sites to build new deep-sea shipping hubs to cut down local trade costs.
· Digital Economy & AI: She stressed that global trade is increasingly turning digital, and urged the state to aggressively build out its technological and internet infrastructure to empower its youth and female entrepreneurs.
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