The Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has re-echoed that Calabar and indeed the entire state remains one of the most peaceful places where business can thrive in Nigeria.

Receiving the MD/CEO of Ecobank Plc, Mr Jibril Aku and his management team on a visit to Calabar recently, Imoke contended that the peaceful disposition of the people and the naturally friendly environment as well as assurance of security of lives and property, makes the State relatively business friendly in the country that has attracted investment over the years.

He said that the successes recorded in the past editions of Calabar Festival and Carnival Calabar had continued to attract huge participants from within and outside Nigeria.

The move, he said is a practical indication that the state is desperately yearning for economic emancipation, adding that since the inception of the present administration, efforts had been geared towards touching lives of the citizenry by creating economic opportunities as well as initiating programmes that will uplift their standard of living.

The Governor promised to concretise the already existing relationship with the institution by offering possible areas of collaboration that will be of mutual benefit to both parties, while calling on other genuine investors to visit the state and explore the vast business opportunities and harness them accordingly.

Earlier, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Plc, Mr Jibril Aku who was in Governor’s Office on a dual capacity of condolence visit to commiserate with the governor over the death of his dear mother, Late Mrs Comfort Samuel Imoke and on business ground, maintained that as one of the pillars in the development of Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort limited, his bank was ready to do more business with the State by taking advantage of the existing Public Private Partnership (PPP) law in the state and collaborate with it especially in its concession programmes.