……set for $30m expansion
Governor Peter Mbah Saturday, February 14, 2026, inaugurated a $20 million foreign direct investment factory by Haier Group in Enugu, describing it as a major leap in the state’s march towards industrialisation and a knowledge-driven economy.
The newly launched Enugu Haier Factory, situated in the heart of the state capital, is a partnership between the Enugu State Government and the global technology giant.
The facility will produce smartphones, tablets, computers, smart boards, Android televisions, medical equipment and renewable energy solutions targeted at the education, health, agriculture and transportation sectors.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mbah said the project aligns with his administration’s vision to grow Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion and position the state as a premier investment destination.
“This partnership represents the convergence of vision, innovation and opportunity – to generate ‘Made in Enugu’ technologies that compete globally, while enabling us to support key local sector developments,” the governor said.
He noted that the state government provided land and constructed the factory structures, while also placing offtake orders for over 25,000 all-in-one desktops and 300,000 tablets to support its 260 Smart Green Schools initiative, thereby guaranteeing market confidence for the investors.
According to Mbah, local production of ICT devices would reduce import dependence, cut costs, ensure sustainability and build local capacity. He added that the facility would serve as a training hub for vocational and technical institutions, promote technology transfer, create jobs and stimulate small and medium-scale enterprises within a budding technology ecosystem.
The governor also praised President Bola Tinubu for economic reforms he said had improved investor confidence and attracted steady inflows of foreign direct investment into the country.
“The steady inflow of FDIs is an indication that the macro pressures that had hitherto prevailed have eased,” he stated, citing improvements in foreign reserves and inflation trends.
Vice President of Haier Group, Sun Yongle, disclosed that the factory has a production capacity of 200,000 units annually and would initially create about 100 direct jobs, with total staff strength expected to exceed 200 when fully operational.
He revealed that the company is planning an additional $30 million expansion in Enugu, covering agriculture, mining and transportation sectors, including sesame processing, coal development and tricycle production.
“Haier Group is the world’s largest manufacturer of appliances, with global revenue exceeding $60 billion in 2025. Our goal is for our products to be not only Made in Enugu, but also Designed in Enugu, with management and technical teams mainly composed of local professionals,” Yongle said.
He added that the company would establish a Research and Development Centre and a training facility in Enugu to provide free technical training and internship opportunities for students.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, described the project as a boost to the Federal Government’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy, noting that it aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
Prof Mbah
Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, commended the governor for completing the factory within 18 months, saying it complements the state’s push for skills-based and technical education.
A student of the Government Technical College (GTC), Enugu, Miss Precious Anih, expressed gratitude to the governor, saying the initiative had restored hope to young people in the state.
The Enugu Haier Factory adds to a growing list of foreign investments in the state, including an electric vehicle assembly plant by Stallion Group and the Nortra Tractor Assembly Plant and Service Centre by ODK Group of Denmark, both aimed at deepening industrial growth and job creation in the South-East.
