The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) has intensified its push for innovation-driven growth, stronger public-private collaboration, and deeper law-commerce synergy as it prepares to host the 18th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair.
PHCCIMA President, Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, the first woman to lead the Chamber in its 68-year history, made this known across a series of high-profile engagements in Port Harcourt, underscoring the Chamber’s central role in Rivers State’s economic transformation.
Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch Law Week 2025, Dr. Nwoga called for closer ties between the legal and business communities to drive nation-building. She described the Law Week theme, “Growing Through Innovation with Strategy – Bridging Markets & Encouraging Disruptions,” as timely, urging stakeholders to embrace digitalisation, disrupt outdated systems, and align law with modern commerce to safeguard investments and spur inclusive growth.
Dr. Nwoga also spotlighted PHCCIMA’s flagship event, the 18th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair, scheduled for December 12–22, 2025, at the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre. With over 300 exhibitors expected across various sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, energy, technology, and services, the fair is designed to bridge markets, promote sustainability, and unlock new investment opportunities in Rivers State and the Niger Delta.
The Chamber President reiterated this message during PHCCIMA’s special day at the 2025 Rivers State Christmas Discount Market, where she praised Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his consistent support of the organised private sector. She noted that the state-backed initiative, hosted at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, has boosted local trade while easing festive costs for residents.
According to her, the upcoming trade fair will complement the state’s economic diversification drive by offering affordable exhibition rates, free entry for visitors, sector-focused seminars, government policy engagements, and extensive networking opportunities.
From advocating innovation-friendly laws to celebrating state-private sector collaboration and preparing a major regional trade showcase, PHCCIMA’s recent engagements signal a renewed momentum to position Port Harcourt as a leading hub for sustainable business growth in West Africa.
