British High Commissioner, Dr Richard Montgomery’s recent visit to Abia will avail the UK the opportunity to explore areas of economic partnership with the state government.
This is according to a statement by the Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer at the British High Commission, BHC, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe yesterday in Abuja.
Akande-Alegbe said Montgomery visited Umuahia, the state capital, between August 20 and 21, for high-level discussions with the governor, government stakeholders and business leaders.
According to her, during the two-day visit, the high commissioner and Governor Alex Otti discussed opportunities that could be beneficial to the state and the UK.
“The high commissioner considered visiting Abia for the first time as a great opportunity to engage and interact with key stakeholders.
“Abia State is key to boosting Nigeria’s economic prosperity and the UK is committed to driving that growth.
“We very much want to develop our partnership, both with the state government and the good people of Abia, to enhance prosperity in the region,” she said.
She said the high commissioner and the governor attended the graduation ceremony of the State-Level Inclusive Digital Transformation Programme funded through the UK’s Digital Access Programme, DAP.
According to her, the programme was designed to bridge the digital skills gap by delivering relevant and applicable digital skills for civil servants.
The communication officer added that Montgomery also visited Geometric Power Company, met the team developing Abia Innovation Industry and Aba Chamber of Commerce.
She said he also toured an industrial fair showcasing small and medium scale manufacturers and discussed opportunities for growth and partnerships with UK businesses where possible.
She added that Montgomery also sought their insight and advice on efforts to advance UK investment in the state.
Meanwhile, UK’s Country Director for the Department for Business and Trade, Mark Smithson, noted that the department was well placed to support the Abia State government and the private sector to drive trade in the state.
“We look forward to building on the discussions we had, strengthening our ties and exploring areas of collaboration and partnerships to boost trade and deliver prosperity to both our countries,” he said.
