GOVERNOR DICKSON IN UK, WOOS INVESTORS TO BAYELSA

GOVERNOR DICKSON IN UK, WOOS INVESTORS TO BAYELSA  

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, has in the last couple of weeks since his arrival in the United Kingdom, been holding high level talks with some of Britain's most influential businessmen and investors, in his bid to kindle their interest in partnering with the state on a number of investment opportunities capable of turning the fortunes of the state around.

  Speaking at one of such meetings held with a group of investors in his private executive suite at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in the heart of London, Governor Dickson told his audience that his administration has carried out a comprehensive  review as well as taken concrete steps to put in place the required institutional framework to attract investors to the state.

 To start with, he said the issue of insecurity have been adequately dealt with. Hear him:  "Gentlemen,  I make bold to say to you  that Bayelsa today is one of the most peaceful and secured states in the whole of Nigeria. We have achieved this given the huge investment we have made in the area of security since we assumed office barely six months ago. Mind you, we are even doing more because of the seriousness we attach to the security of not only the lives of our investors, but also to their investments.

That is why today in Bayelsa, all the multinational companies who abandoned the state at one time, are all back and they are on ground as we speak, working".Governor Dickson went on further to state that one of the reasons why he decided to embark on the trip was to afford him the opportunity to personally relate with the investors and to assure them that Bayelsa State is ready to welcome genuine investors and investments in an atmosphere so convivial.He further stressed that aside from the personal guarantees and assurances that he was giving to them, the state was willing to go a step further to take out insurance policy on every foreign investor who have shown or expressed genuine commitment to invest in Bayelsa. "Our concept of attracting investors, especially genuine direct foreign investment into our state includes a commitment to protect them and their investments by going a step further to take out an insurance policy on them and their investments. Similarly, we will take out insurance policy on every tourists who visit our state.

Beyond rhetoric,  we want every tourist to truly experience Bayelsa as a home away from home. We are determined to make Bayelsa a foremost tourism and investment haven", he said.Some key government officials who were on hand and indeed, were crucial to all the discussions and meetings held with prospective  investors in London, included select members of Governor Dickson's Economic Management  Team.Leading the team is the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Duate Iyabi, the Chief Economic Adviser, Tam Alazigha and the Senior Special Assistant on Investment, Cyril Akika.
Daniel Markson-Iworiso
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State