Nigeria’s Trade Relation with the Republic of Bangladesh this year 2020 is almost $145 million, a modest rise from $11.27 million last year 2019.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo made this known at the inauguration of the Commercial Display Room of the Bangladesh High Commission in Abuja, last weekend.
The Special Assistant to the Minister, Ifedayo Sayo, in a statement in Abuja, on Sunday said the minister called for an enhancement of bilateral trade between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
According to the Minister, “the two-way trade between the two countries have increased from US$11.27 million in Year 2018/2019 to US$144.75 million in 2019/2020.”
The Minister made it clear that there are huge potentials for strengthening trade and economic relations between the two countries, which has largely remained unutilized.
“Nigeria under the visionary leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari enjoys a respectful place in the world, and it has already become the largest economy in Africa. Nigeria has taken a series of steps to diversify its export basket as too much dependence on its oil revenue cannot be a viable option.
“I fully agree with what the Hon Commerce Minister of Bangladesh has just said. There are huge potentials for strengthening trade and economic relations between Bangladesh and Nigeria which remain largely unutilized,” he said.
On the inauguration of the commercial viewing room at the mission, he described it as a creative idea to showcase export potentials of any country in a foreign land.
“He said, “I am impressed to see the wide and wonderful collections of the exportable of Bangladesh in beautifully designed and tastefully decorated shelves.
“I have no doubt that the display room will go a long way to get a sense about the export potentials of Bangladesh and the investment climate in the country.
“We will also be happy to explore increased imports from Bangladesh while Bangladesh may like to consider importing products like oil and cotton, cashew nuts, among others from Nigeria.
“We are aware of Bangladesh’s unique position as being the second largest exporter of ready-made garments in the world, only after China, and we invite Bangladesh’s potential investors to come and invest jointly in Nigeria, in the sectors like textile/pharmaceutical/ceramics, jute etc. in the various industrial zones that we are setting up in Nigeria.
He commended the members of the Nigeria-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce NBCC and the Nigeria-Bangladesh Business and Technology Forum launched at the event saying both organisations will adjunct government’s efforts for stronger commercial and economic relations between the two countries.
