Fubara, British envoy in talks on bilateral investment opportunities

The Rivers Government, on Wednesday, opened talks with the British Envoy on ways to attract more foreign investments and a trade hub to further strengthen the capacity of entrepreneurs in the state.

The bilateral discussion between Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Richard Montgomery, held at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

Addressing newsmen later, Montgomery said that the discussion with the Rivers Government bordered on how to strengthen the security architecture and expand the prevailing economic opportunities in the state.

He said that the discussion also laid the premise that would tremendously enhance trade and investment partnerships, capable of engendering economic prosperity among the citizens.

“I think it is in our interest to trade, to gain mutual benefits from our investments.

“And for people in areas, such as 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 economic situations because there is a lot of interests from UK businesses, from the city of London, about potential opportunities in this Rivers economy.

And, of course, the city of London has an interest in Rivers 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,” Montgomery said.

He also acknowledged the current inflationary trend and foreign exchange situation that have made life difficult for Nigerians.

He expressed optimism in the reforms being implemented by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to address the challenges.

“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 positively,” the envoy said.