The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has initiated talks with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to accelerate infrastructural development and economic growth in the Niger Delta.

A statement on Thursaday in Port Harcourt by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, said that the two organisations agreed to collaborate at the Afreximbank Annual Meeting in the Bahamas recently.

Ughakpoteni quotes Dr Samual Ogbuku, the NDDC Managing Director, as saying the discussions, held at the Afreximbank Annual Meeting in The Bahamas, were part of NDDC’s strategic planning to involve development partners in the advancement of the Niger Delta.

“Discussions revolved around the strategic and operational leadership required for implementing the bank’s intra-African and industrialisation objectives to support the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA).

“The meeting was a crucial gathering for economic policymakers in Africa and the Caribbean, providing a platform for dialogue, cooperation, and exploration of opportunities for mutual growth and development,” he stated.

Ogbuku emphasised that the commission was actively seeking to collaborate with development partners to leverage the economic potential of the region for job creation and growth.

“We are pushing for sustainable development in the Niger Delta; hence, we will be following up on our talks with Afreximbank to deliver tangible outcomes for the region.

“The discussions also focussed on a variety of opportunities that will bring benefits to the Niger Delta in no distant time,” he said. (NAN)