The Rivers State Government and the British High Commission, Abuja, held a closed-door meeting in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The meeting was between the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria (Abuja), Mr. Richard Montgomery.
They held discussions about how to attract increased foreign investments that would further strengthen the capability of entrepreneurs in Rivers State.
After the meeting, the British Envoy spoke to newsmen and said that their discussion firmed up the issues of strengthening the security architecture and expanding the prevailing economic opportunities.
The envoy stated that the discussion has laid the premise that it would tremendously enhance trade and investment partnerships that would engender economic prosperity among the citizenry.
Mr Montgomery: “I think it is in our interest to trade to gain mutual benefits from our investments. And for people in areas such as the South-South region where livelihoods and jobs are essentially important, it is in our mutual interest to try and enhance our trade and investment partnership, generally.
“I am interested in understanding both the security and the economic situations because there is a lot of interest from UK businesses and from the city of London about potential opportunities in this (Rivers) economy.
“And of course, the city of London has an interest in Rivers State because of its strategic status, with strategic assets like oil and gas, strategic facilities that facilitate trade in all of Nigeria, and indeed, strategic institutions, including big higher education up here.”
The envoy acknowledged the current inflationary trend and foreign exchange situation that has made living difficult for Nigerians but expressed optimism in the reforms being implemented by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
“So, we are very interested in tracking what is going on. I feel very optimistic that there are huge assets and potentials here and that the big reforms that are being implemented by the federal government will result in positive results.”
. TheWitness
