Everything you need to know about joining Imo State's premier business chamber.
OCCIMA membership is the single most powerful investment an Imo State business can make in its own growth. From export documentation to government representation, from trade missions to business networking — membership unlocks a full suite of benefits that are unavailable to unregistered businesses.
The only body authorised to issue CoOs in Owerri. Without OCCIMA membership, you cannot export.
Your interests are represented at state and federal government level through NACCIMA.
Access Imo State's largest private sector directory and regular B2B networking events.
Participate in international trade missions including the Indo-Nigeria Business Summit.
Membership is open to all legally registered businesses operating in Imo State.
Submit your form and documents at the OCCIMA Secretariat or via post.
Your application is reviewed by the membership team within 5–7 working days.
You receive written notification of approval and an invoice for membership dues.
Attend a brief onboarding session and collect your OCCIMA membership certificate and ID card.
OCCIMA is the sole authorised issuer of Certificates of Origin for exporters in Owerri. This document confirms the country of origin of your goods and is required by customs authorities in virtually all export destinations. Full and Corporate Members can apply at the OCCIMA Secretariat with a standard 2–3 working day turnaround.
OCCIMA provides official letters of introduction and support documentation for members travelling internationally for genuine business purposes, including trade missions, supplier visits, and investor meetings. This service significantly improves visa application success rates.
Through NACCIMA's national network, OCCIMA raises member concerns at federal legislative and executive levels. The chamber regularly makes submissions to the National Assembly on legislation affecting private sector operations and participates in government consultations on trade and economic policy.
Full and Corporate Members are eligible to participate in OCCIMA-organised trade missions to India, China, UAE, the UK, and selected African markets. The chamber subsidises costs for qualifying members and provides pre-mission briefings and B2B matchmaking.
OCCIMA delivers regular training programmes covering export compliance, tax management, digital business tools, access to credit, and sector-specific skills. Many programmes are delivered free of charge or at heavily subsidised rates for members.
All active OCCIMA members are listed in the chamber's searchable online member directory, accessible to buyers, investors, and the general public. Full and Corporate Members receive enhanced directory profiles.
Full and Corporate Members may join any of OCCIMA's 10 sector-specific trade groups, each with its own chairman, activities, and advocacy agenda. Trade groups are the most direct channel for sector-level influence within the chamber.
As an OCCIMA member, your business automatically gains access to the broader NACCIMA network of chambers across Nigeria, facilitating inter-state trade introductions, shared intelligence, and access to national-level business programmes.
Membership opened doors I couldn't open alone. Within six months of joining, we completed our first export to Europe — the Certificate of Origin from OCCIMA made it possible.
The chamber's advocacy work directly contributed to the removal of three illegal levies that had been eating into our margins for years. No other organisation could have achieved that.
The Indo-Nigeria Business Summit introduced me to my current raw materials supplier in Mumbai. That relationship has reduced our production costs by 18%. OCCIMA paid for itself ten times over.
Join over 500 businesses in Imo State's official chamber of commerce.
Start Your Application