FG targets $80bn trade with Asia in 2yrs

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

The Federal Government and Nigeria’s ambassadors across the Asian countries held a strategic meeting in New Delhi, India, for the first time in over 50 years to brainstorm on a strategic synergy aimed at further improving the trade and investment ties with the 15 countries.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, told journalists at the end of the two-day meeting that the Ministry and the ambassadors resolved to work on doubling the volume of trade

between Nigeria and Asia to over $80bn (N13.2trn) within two years.

Currently, trade volume between Nigeria and 15 Asian countries stands in excess of $40bn (N6.62trn). India is currently Nigeria’s largest trading partner with a trade volume of about N2.95trn, followed by China (N2.143trn).

Trade volume between Nigeria and Australia stands at N534.3bn; Singapore (N293.4bn); Indonesia (272.8bn); Japan (N263.5bn); and Bangladesh (N84.5bn), among others.

Fourteen ambassadors, including the Ambassadors of Nigeria to India, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, North Korea, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Guangzou and Pakistan, attended the meeting.

Key agencies of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, such as the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, National Automotive Council, and the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, were also at the roundtable.

Aganga said the meeting was necessitated by the emergence of Asia as Nigeria’s major trading and investment partner, adding that there was an urgent need to maintain Nigeria’s current position as the preferred investment destination in Africa and globally.

The meeting also opened up fresh investment commitments by major Indian companies, who were not yet present in Nigeria.

The minister said, “Why is this important meeting happening in India, some may ask? Why not in one of the western nations with whom Nigeria traditionally had strong trading ties? The reason is that over the last decade, there has been a shift in the dynamics of how Nigeria does business globally. We have seen our nation move from a nation historically joined at the hips with the western world to one which is more and more eastward facing.

“This is evidenced by the fact that Nigeria’s biggest trading partner is now India, with China following closely behind. Nigeria also sells a large portion of its crude to India, while our traditional major buyer- the United States- has moved to 10thplace. This scenario mirrors the shift in trading patterns.”

 He added, “Whilst the Western world has been beset by economic instability, the fastest growing economies have been those in the African and Asian regions. We want to arm you with relevant information to help in your roles as Chief Marketing Officers for Nigeria in your various stations.

“That is why we have ensured that many of the parastatals and directorates under the supervision of MITI provide key information on the progress and policy thrust in key sectors of the Nigerian economy to guide you in this critical assignment.”  In his speech, the Nigerian High Commissioner to India, Mr. Ndubuisi Amaku, said the country stood to benefit a lot by increasing the current level of economic partnership with Asian countries.

“It is only those who live in the past that still believe that the West can help us. The Asian continent has great regards for Nigeria as a country. We welcome this move and will do everything to support the Transformation Agenda of the President,” he said.