THE Federal Republic of Germany wants to strengthen its economic relations with Nigeria, the visiting German Foreign Minister, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said yesterday in Abuja after conferring with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bagudu Hirse.
The envoy is leading an 81-member delegation to Nigeria in response to the current administration’s determination to make economic expansion its main thrust.
Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Abdul Bin Rimdap, is one of the nation’s plenipotentiaries currently back home in Nigeria on the invitation of the Federal Government to work out the finer elements of a foreign policy thrust anchored on economic determinism.
Last year, bilateral trade between both countries reached an all time high with German imports of Nigerian goods grossing 1.4 billion euros. This represents a 95 per cent increase when compared to the 1995 figures. Conversely, however, German exports to Nigeria only rose by 27 per cent which amounted to ?983 millions.
Steimeier, who has was starting his African tour with Nigeria, disclosed that apart from stabilising Nigeria’s economy, the issue of the crisis in the Niger Delta also came up for discussion.
“Yes, the issue of electoral reform was mentioned. We are concerned about that. But primarily, the mission is to strengthen trade. We have met with your President just after the elections. Issues of global environmental protection and energy are high on discussions. But we must explore the full potential of our economic relations. We also want to see an increase in German companies coming to do business in Nigeria,” he added.
Hirse said Nigeria would grab with both hands the new economic relations being offered by Germany as they relate to expansion of trade in the non-oil sector.
“We are looking at solid minerals and technical co-operation, while striving now to actualise the old agreements, especially the ones that have to do with the economy,” he said.
Nigeria and Germany have had three major bilateral agreements since 1999. They include the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), the Cultural/Educational Promotion Agreement as well as the Investment
Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) signed on April 28, 2000.
The German Minister, who leaves the country today for Ghana, will pay a courtesy call on President Umar Yar’Adua, the Senate President as well as the Speaker of the House of Representatives before his departure.