The former Nigerian leader stated this in Yenagoa, Friday night, at a state banquet organised by the Bayelsa State government in honour of the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Young-Chae, who was on a two-day visit to the state.
Describing Bayelsa as a fertile market for foreign direct investment, Jonathan said not many foreign investors have discovered the state’s economic potential.
A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the former president as urging the Korean envoy not to let slip the opportunity of harnessing the full potential of a virgin state like Bayelsa.
Jonathan commended Governor Douye Diri and his team for a great job of attracting economic giants like South Korea, noted for its technological advancement, to the state.
His said: “Most cases, when companies come to Nigeria, they feel that they cannot invest in young states like Bayelsa, with relatively low infrastructure development, and have to go elsewhere…”
Responding, Governor Douye Diri said South Korea, which is a world power in technology and among the 10 largest economies in the world, is the right destination to partner with Bayelsa and make the state achieve its full economic potential.
Senator Diri stressed that his government was fully committed to moving the state in the direction of economic and technological development, which was the reason for the symbiotic relationship between both parties.
The governor urged businessmen in the state to take advantage of the relationship established with the Republic of South Korea.
“We believe those from Bayelsa that have been yearning for businesses now have a golden opportunity and let us not let it to slip by,” Diri said.
While enumerating the business opportunities in agriculture, aquaculture, the deep seaport project, as well as in oil and gas, the governor said the state was eager to tap into South Korea’s technical know-how.
Speaking earlier, the South Korea Ambassador, Kim Young-Chae, who extolled the exceptional leadership of Governor Diri, assured that his government was looking forward to enhancing the cooperation between it and Bayelsa.
