India pushes for trade, diplomacy with Nigeria
In another move to counter the growing footprint of Chinese trade interests in West African countries, the Modi government has offered Nigeria to take advantage of technology, know-how and imports from India in the agricultural sector as also from the line of credit that India had extended.
Union Agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh on Tuesday made the offer to his Nigerian counterpart Audu Ogbeh who is on a visit to India.
“India will be only too happy to share its experience and expertise in any area of agriculture that Nigeria may identify,” the minister told Ogbeh while appreciating Nigeria’s new initiatives such as the ‘Green Alternative’ initiative which is a roadmap to make Nigeria self-sufficient in agriculture and a major exporter of agricultural products.
“For the last few years, India has been the largest trading partner of Nigeria and Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa. There is tremendous potential for further expanding this volume. Nigeria may consider importing fresh grapes, pepper, wheat, maize, rice and cotton,” Singh told his counterpart.
Singh conveyed his appreciation to the Nigerian agriculture minister for encouraging Indian companies to explore the opportunities in Nigerian agricultural sector both as investors as well as providers of agri-services, agricultural machinery …read more
