By Jennete Ugo Anya
As businesses, exporters, investors and other stakeholders gather at the 2026 Abuja International Trade Fair, the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) is using the platform to deepen engagement around export financing, market access and the development of Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.
The trade fair, which runs from September 25 to October 6, 2026, at the Trade Fair Complex in Abuja, is being held under the theme, ‘Resilience: Trade, Taxation and the Economy.’ The theme places trade and enterprise development within the wider conversation about how businesses can navigate changing economic conditions while strengthening their capacity to compete.
For NEXIM Bank, participation in the fair provides an opportunity to take its export development mandate directly to businesses and other economic actors. The Bank is engaging exporters, small and medium-sized enterprises, investors, industry stakeholders and members of the public on financing solutions designed to support businesses seeking to participate more actively in international trade.
The focus is particularly relevant to Nigeria’s efforts to expand its non-oil export base. While oil and gas remain significant to the economy, greater participation in global markets by manufacturers, agricultural producers, processors and other export-oriented businesses is central to diversifying sources of foreign exchange and expanding the country’s trade capacity.
Through its presence at the fair, NEXIM Bank is also creating a channel for businesses to better understand the financial and institutional support available to them as they pursue new markets.
For many SMEs and emerging exporters, access to finance remains an important part of the export equation. However, financing alone does not determine whether a business can successfully enter and sustain its presence in international markets. Product quality, production capacity, compliance, market intelligence, logistics and the ability to meet international standards are equally important.
This makes platforms such as the Abuja International Trade Fair significant beyond their exhibition value. They provide opportunities for businesses to interact directly with financial institutions, government agencies, investors and potential commercial partners while gaining a clearer understanding of the requirements for scaling beyond the domestic market.
NEXIM Bank’s participation therefore places export finance within a broader conversation about enterprise competitiveness and sustainable growth. By engaging businesses directly, the Bank can connect its financing mandate with the practical challenges facing exporters and businesses with ambitions to expand internationally.
The timing also gives the fair relevance to the ongoing discussion about resilience in Nigeria’s economy. Businesses are increasingly required to manage currency pressures, changing input costs, taxation, access to capital and evolving market conditions while maintaining competitiveness.
For export-oriented enterprises, building resilience also means developing the capacity to earn from markets beyond Nigeria. Expanding exports can create new revenue channels for businesses while contributing to foreign exchange earnings and strengthening the country’s position in regional and international trade.
The Abuja International Trade Fair brings these issues into one marketplace, connecting policy, finance, enterprise and investment. NEXIM Bank’s presence adds a financial dimension to those discussions, particularly for businesses looking to understand how export finance can support expansion and market entry.
As the fair continues until October 6, businesses visiting the NEXIM Bank stand have an opportunity to engage with the institution on its export financing solutions and strategic initiatives for non-oil export development.
The broader message from the engagement is that Nigeria’s export ambitions will depend not only on identifying international markets, but also on ensuring that businesses have the financing, capacity and market support required to compete effectively in them.
For SMEs, exporters and prospective exporters, the trade fair consequently offers more than an exhibition space. It provides a point of contact for understanding the pathways through which Nigerian businesses can position their products for wider markets and pursue sustainable growth through international trade.
