The Rivers State Commission for Culture and Tourism, Dr Nabbs Imegwu, has described the State’s Annual Cultural Festival (CARNIRIV) as a catalyst in the economic development of the state as it does not only attract investment to the state, but boosts tourism and contributes to the economic growth of the state.

The Commissioner who stated this during an interview last Saturday, noted that CARNIRIV had become a Port Harcourt brand, and reiterated that the law made by the  state government emphasised on  continuity  of CARNIRIV with the establishment of the Rivers State Tourism Agency whose responsibility would be the managing and organising  of the annual event.

He recalled that in the middle of this year, government held a CARNIRIV summit, the purpose of which was to engage all stakeholders to generate ideas on how to make tourism succeed.

The commissioner noted that culture and tourism attract  investors, saying,  the present administration had put on ground credible investment opportunities which the people are feeling the impact.

According to him, in the past two years, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state had improved.

Although unemployment was still very high, he said there was marginal reduction in that area, as the government had recorded milestones in security and infrastructure developmment in the state.

Imegwu observed that when the present administration came on board, nearly all hope was seemingly lost in terms of economic activities in the state, adding that government was recording laudable achievements.

On security, the culture and tourism boss disclosed that the state had one of the best security apparatuses in the country, and declared that security was now a corporate thing in the state, as this could be ascertained through the upsurge of economic activities  in the state.

Jacob Obinna