The United States Consulate in Nigeria has stated it is seeking ways to expand bilateral trade and investment and ensure prosperity between the United States and Nigeria.
The Political and Economic Section Chief of the US Consulate, Lagos, Mike Ervin, stated this Wednesday in Abia State while on a working visit to the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.
He noted that the consulate covers the 17 southern states of Nigeria; hence its mission “to expand bilateral trade and investment and ensure prosperity between the United States and Nigeria”.
“In the US consulate in Lagos, we cover the 17 southern states and our top job more than any other is to seek ways to expand bilateral trade and investment and expand shared prosperity between our people.
“Our people share a long history of partnership and that was highlighted by the visit of our Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkin, in Nigeria a couple of weeks ago, where he spoke eloquently and strongly on the significance and importance of US-Nigeria bilateral relationship. And our desire is to seek ways of expanding that relationship to build prosperity for our people,” he stated.
Ervin thanked Otti for opening the doors of Abia State to them to talk about ways they can find opportunities to build shared prosperity for their people, adding, “This is one message Secretary Blinkin has been talking about around the world.”
Responding, the Abia State governor called for support from the United States consulate to promote trade, investment and other areas of interest in Abia State.
Otti highlighted some challenges confronting the state, especially the business sector to include access to finance, power and logistics support in the area of digital economy, among others.
He disclosed that the issue of power supply in Aba would soon be over following the inauguration of the Geometric power plant, which would be performed by President Bola Tinubu.
According to Otti, the state prides itself as a major trading and industrial hub in Nigeria, noting that Aba has over 50,000 shoe manufacturers and is very strong in fabrics and garment production.
He, however, stated that the state had suffered setbacks in the past due to infrastructural decay.
He said many businesses that had relocated from Aba to other states were gradually returning as his administration had in the last eight months fixed many roads in the state, especially in Aba, the commercial hub.
“In the past, we have suffered quite some setbacks because of infrastructural decay. You really cannot do much when infrastructure is not there. That is why when we came, we started pursuing the rejuvenation and rehabilitation of infrastructure particularly, roads and drainages, not forgetting security. And in the last eight months, we have been able to fix many roads in Aba, which is also the industrial and trading hub of Abia State.
SOURCE: PUNCHNG
