Business news

MINSK, 9 August (BelTA) – Belarus is discussing the possibility of selling more advanced-technology products and other goods to Nigeria. The matter was high on the agenda as Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Dapkiunas met with Ambassador of Nigeria to Russia with concurrent accreditation to Belarus Steve Davies Ugbah, the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told BelTA.

The meeting touched upon the state of Belarus-Nigeria friendly relations and ways to incrementally advance them. Close attention was paid to opportunities for a considerable increase in the delivery of advanced-technology products and other Belarusian goods to the capacious Nigerian market where tractors and agricultural machines sell well. The sides underlined the importance of enabling favorable conditions for representatives of the private sector of both countries to directly contact each other.

The deputy minister of foreign affairs and the ambassador agreed that it is important for Belarusian exporters to come up with long-term strategies for penetrating and securing their hold on the Nigerian market as one of the largest and most promising African markets. The market is characterized with tough competition, versatile supply, and broad demand.

Advancing large-scale cooperation in the education of Nigerian students in Belarusian universities was mentioned as an important cooperation avenue. Nigeria tops the list of African countries, which have sent their students to Belarus for education.

Apart from that, the Belarusian and Nigerian diplomats discussed high-level visits and agreed it is necessary to put more efforts into their organization in order to give a new impulse to mutually beneficial cooperation. Continuing the practice of consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs was mentioned as well as the invigoration of interparliamentary contacts.

Representatives of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs underlined that after presenting his credentials to the Belarusian head of state in early 2018 the Nigerian ambassador has repeatedly visited Belarus and is one of the most active African non-resident ambassadors.