British envoy, Fubara discuss economic opportunities

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Montgomery, met with the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday to discuss mutual economic opportunities.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after a closed-door meeting at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Montgomery said the discussion with Fubara centred on the issues of strengthening the security architecture and expanding the prevailing economic opportunities.

He stated that the discussion had laid the premise to enhance trade and investment partnerships that would engender economic prosperity among the citizenry.

The envoy said, “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 the 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 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.”

Montgomery 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 potential here, and that the big reforms that are being implemented by the Federal Government, will result positively.”

On his part, Fubara said the discussions with the British envoy were aimed at attracting increased foreign investments that would further strengthen the capability of entrepreneurs in the state.