In a bid to foster strategic economic growth in the Niger Delta region, Belemaoil Producing Limited has appealed to the United States Department of Commerce, to establish a Business Liaison Office in Port Harcourt.

President and Founder of Belemaoil Producing Limited, Mr. Jackrich Tein made the appeal when the US Consul-General to Nigeria, Mr. John Bray paid a courtesy visit to the corporate head office of the company in Trans-Amadi, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Tein Jr. explained that the establishment of a Business Liaison Office will effectively coordinate the activities of the US Department of Commerce within the Niger Delta.

He said the company wants to collaborate with the Commerce Department of the US in order to strengthen existing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the United States and to create more value for mutual benefits.

He said: “Port-Harcourt is West Africa’s economic hub for oil and gas investment which operates over 85 percent of Nigeria’s economy. The city is also the heart of the Niger Delta, which is Nigeria’s treasure base. Therefore, such US commercial presence will greatly foster economic and diplomatic cohesion.”

He said the company has within its two years of operation achieved much, which include creation of direct employment to over 3000 Nigerians. “In the last one year, we have provided over 3000 direct employment, over 400 local and overseas scholarships. We have also been able to eradicate 100percent of incidences related to pipeline vandalism, and economic sabotage within OML 55.”

Responding, the United States Consul-General in Nigeria, Mr. Bray welcomed the idea of sighting a commerce liaison office in Port Harcourt, but however, called for the conduct of peaceful election in 2019 to attract more investors.

“How do we get that sense of security back to the United States, back to American business people, and back to my government so we can open a liaison office in Port Harcourt. If you want investors to come, let’s have a free, fair, transparent and non-violent election here,” Bray said.