29/09/2013
Bayelsa State Government has commenced discussions with the Spanish Government to explore the possibility of attracting Spanish investments to the State.
Governor of the State, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, who stated this during a courtesy visit to the Spanish Embassy in Abuja, is of the view that such investments would also help in bolstering the economy and fast-track the overall development of the State.
According to him, the State has huge potentials in agriculture, adding that with the cooperation of the Spanish Government, the sector could serve as a viable source of revenue and create employment opportunities for the citizenry.
Governor Dickson, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Bayelsa House, Abuja, Chief Diekivie Bovie Ikiogha, remarked that the State was focusing on agriculture to diversify its economy away from crude oil and gas, which are wasteful assets.
He noted that although, Bayelsa State contributes about 45 per cent of crude oil and gas to the Nigerian economy, the State Government has decided to prioritise investments in the non oil sectors to put the State’s economy on the fast lane of development.
He enumerated possible areas of part partnership with the Spanish Government to include, science and technology as well as automobile.
Governor Dickson assured the Spanish Government of his administration’s support and cooperation in its proposed investments in Bayelsa state, especially, in creating the enabling environment for their businesses to thrive.
Earlier, the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Alvaro Castillo Aguilar, had explained his country has long standing economic ties with Nigeria, stating that 16 per cent of Spanish gas and petroleum products are imported from Nigeria, where Bayelsa State constitutes one of the largest sources of the crude oil and gas.
Ambassador Aguilar noted that exports from Nigeria to Spain have improved, especially in the oil and automobile sectors, since after the two countries signed an investment protection agreement in 2009.
According to him, there are already plans by the Spanish Government to build an automobile spare parts fabrication plant in Bayelsa State for its Land Rover vehicles in the Nigerian market.
The Spanish ambassador listed other areas of investment in the State as road construction, agriculture and renewable energies and appealed for a conducive atmosphere to enable the businesses operate at optimum capacity.
Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State
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