Nigeria, Ireland to Deepen Bilateral Trade Relations in Agriculture

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Amb. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, has said that Nigeria will continue to deepen bilateral relations with other countries, such as the Republic of Ireland, to boost trade, agriculture, and investment opportunities.

The Minister stated this during the ministry’s meeting with a team from the Republic of Ireland led by the Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Peter Ryan, in her office.

According to her, various policies and programmes such as the formulation of trade policy, investment policy, and auto policy, among others, have been put in place by her ministry to facilitate bilateral trade and investment in the country.

“The ministry through the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has also set up Trade houses in Cairo, Egypt; Nairobi, Kenya and other parts of the world to improve non-oil exports”, she said.

She maintained that as a strategic nation in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, AfCFTA, the Federal Government is strongly committed to ensuring that necessary support is provided.

Speaking further, she described Nigeria as a very strategic country in the implementation of AfCFTA; hence, the government is committed to providing the necessary support for Nigerian businesses to participate meaningfully.

Earlier speaking, the Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Peter Ryan, said he was in the ministry to see further collaboration and build on the existing relationship between Ireland and Nigeria.

While stating that his country would embark on a ministerial visit to Nigeria, the ambassador said the Republic of Ireland was interested in partnering with Nigeria in the areas of agriculture, research, and fintech, among others.

Agro Nigeria / Foluke Ibitomi