Rivers State by virtue of its strategic location is the economic hub in the entire South of Gulf of Guinea.

Executive Director, Rivers State Bureau of Public Private Partnerships (BPPP), Mrs Anita Laz-Nwokeafor made the remark in Port Harcourt.

Mrs. Laz-Nwokeafor said, the state was currently undergoing an economic transformation and working towards realising this objective by focusing its priorities on genuine opportunities for business and economic activities.

Government according to her was poised to address the issue of unemployment and poverty, adding that opportunities for private sector participation include Power, Agriculture, Health, Urban Renewal, Housing, Tourism, Water and Greater Port Harcourt City Development.

The BPPP Boss called on private investors to take advantage of the abundant natural resources of Rivers State to come and invest, pointing out that Government has embarked on massive infrastructural and human capital development in the state.

She noted that the direct investment in power, roads, schools and hospitals were part of government’s vision to move the state away from an oil based transient economy to an Agriculture and knowledge based economy that will be sustainable for the next generation.

“Government believes that as part of its overall strategy to alleviate poverty and foster sustainable economic development in the state, it becomes critical for it to devote adequate attention to the development of core infrastructure stimulating of large scale investments, Public Private Partnerships and to proactively seek the maximum support, co-operation and the aid of global donor communities in order to meet agreed social and economic objectives in the state,” she said.

Mrs Laz-Nwokeafor asserted that the enactment of the Rivers Public Private Partnership in infrastructural development law provides the framework for an enabling environment and offers different incentives to encourage private sector participation on employment generating opportunities.