The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said his administration will use the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York to showcase the state’s vast economic and investment potentials and attract new investments across key sectors of the economy.
Fubara made this known while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the global conference in New York, where Rivers State is participating in engagements designed to increase its visibility before international investors, development finance institutions, multinational corporations and members of the Nigerian diaspora.
The governor said his participation at the UNGA was primarily aimed at giving Rivers State greater visibility on the international stage while presenting its economic opportunities to potential investors.
According to him, the global gathering provides an important platform for the state to market its investment opportunities, particularly in the oil and gas industry, while also drawing attention to other sectors with significant economic potential.
“The issue is very simple. We’re trying to give visibility to the state and also showcase the areas where God has really endowed us in the oil and gas sector and other aspects of the state,” Fubara said.
He explained that the state’s participation was not limited to attending the formal activities of the UN General Assembly, but would also involve engagements with prospective investors and other stakeholders whose investments could contribute to the state’s economic development.
The governor expressed optimism that the meetings and side engagements scheduled around the conference would create opportunities for investors with immediate and strategic interests in Rivers State to explore the state’s business environment.
“I strongly believe that at the end of this conference and other side meetings, business opportunities will be made open and presented to interested investors who might have very serious and immediate needs to come to our dear state, knowing full well the position of Rivers State in the oil and gas industry,” he said.
Fubara further disclosed that the state was also seeking opportunities to attract financing for developmental projects and expand its investment base through engagements with relevant financial and investment institutions.
“I also strongly believe that we are also going to make some inroad into financing and investors opportunities for our dear state,” the governor stated.
He said the investment drive at UNGA 81 was consistent with the economic reforms and institutional framework being pursued by his administration to make Rivers State more attractive and accessible to investors.
A key component of the administration’s investment strategy, according to the governor, is the establishment of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA), designed to serve as a one-stop platform for facilitating investment into the state.
Fubara said the international engagements at the UNGA would complement the work of the agency by exposing Rivers State’s investment opportunities to a wider pool of global investors.
“This is not different from what we have already done before in establishing what we call the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency. What we are doing here will also aid the programme of that agency,” he explained.
The governor maintained that the state’s economic potential extends beyond its traditional strength in the oil and gas sector, stressing that Rivers also possesses opportunities in agriculture, the blue economy, manufacturing and renewable energy.
He described the state as peaceful, stable and open for business, assuring prospective investors of the administration’s commitment to creating an environment conducive to investment and economic activity.
Rivers State’s strategic position in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry remains one of the major components of its investment proposition, given the state’s long-standing role in the country’s petroleum economy.
The governor’s investment pitch at the UNGA is also expected to highlight opportunities in emerging sectors, as the state seeks to diversify its economy and attract private capital beyond the traditional petroleum-based economy.
The state is among the Nigerian sub-national governments participating actively in engagements around the 81st UN General Assembly, with meetings expected to involve development finance institutions, multinational corporations and diaspora investors.
The engagements form part of broader efforts by the Rivers State Government to establish international partnerships and identify financing and investment opportunities capable of supporting economic growth and development in the state.
Fubara said the ultimate objective was to ensure that Rivers State returns from the international gathering with tangible investment opportunities that would benefit the state and its people.
“Overall, I will say that Rivers State will be visible and prominent in this conference and we will come home with some good investments for our dear state,” he said.
