By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The need for closer trade and investment between Nigeria and India has been emphasised by the Federal Government.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah, while speaking on Thursday in his office in Abuja, disclosed that on two grounds, it was worth it for Nigeria to have closer trade involvement with India.
According to him, these two grounds are the involvement of Mahindra (Auto Makers of India) in Nigeria’s quest to have the Auto Industrial Park for Nnewi in Anambra State and the proposal for a Nigeria Centre of the Indian Institute of Technology, even though by a private sector participant.
While receiving the Indian High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr B.N. Reddy accompanied by his Deputy, Subhash Chand, the Minister noted that Nigeria’s trade relationship with India is significant especially with the private sector and expressed the desire to work with India on the Specialized Industrial Zones which he said, Nigeria was working on.
Mr Enelamah also gave a commitment to have Nigeria work on getting active again in the Ministerial World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting holding next in India as the Indian High Commissioner seized the opportunity of meeting with the Minister, to invite Nigeria to India.
The Indian envoy visited the Minister to request for collaboration with Nigeria on a number of things.
These include the proposed Joint Trade Committee of Nigeria and India; need to review existing trade agreements between Nigeria and India; and CEOs Forum for interested CEOs from Nigeria and India who are interested in Bilateral Trade Engagements.
Adedapo Adesanya