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Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for Nigeria and Thailand to broaden their bilateral relationship beyond crude oil and rice production, with greater cooperation in technology, agriculture, commerce and renewable energy.
Shettima made the call on Wednesday in Abuja when he received a Thai delegation led by the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, at the Presidential Villa.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘Nigeria, Thailand to Expand Bilateral Ties in Technology, Agriculture, Renewable Energy.’
Speaking on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, Shettima said Nigeria needed to review its existing partnership with Thailand and take advantage of the Asian country’s expertise in intermediate technology, particularly in agriculture and related sectors.
“I believe that our relationship should go beyond transactions in crude oil, rice production and so on. So, there is a need for us to review our bilateral relationship at a strategic level,” he said.
The Vice President described Nigeria as a large market with significant opportunities for investment in agriculture, information and communications technology, renewable energy and solid minerals.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s young population and workforce as key advantages for deeper economic cooperation.
“Nigeria is a large market. There are enormous opportunities for partnership and investment in agriculture, ICT, renewable energy, and solid minerals, and we have a young population and workforce,” Shettima said.
He urged the Thai government and businesses to increase their investments in Nigeria, stressing the country’s strategic position in Africa, demographic strength and abundant natural resources.
Thailand proposes Africa initiative
Phuangketkeow, who was on his first visit to Africa, described Nigeria as a strategic partner to Thailand and an important gateway for strengthening the country’s relations with Africa, particularly West Africa.
He praised what he described as the ongoing transformation in Nigeria under the Tinubu administration and identified the country as a strong voice in the Global South and an emerging leader in e-commerce.
The Thai minister also proposed a Thailand-Africa Initiative aimed at strengthening economic and people-to-people ties between Thailand and key African countries.
He said agriculture would be a major focus of the initiative, while Thailand would also explore cooperation in areas such as Universal Health Coverage and tourism.
“For us in Thailand, we believe that Nigeria is a strategic partner bilaterally and an important window to strengthening ties with Africa, particularly West Africa,” Phuangketkeow said.
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Ahmed, Thailand’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Thirapath Mongkolnavin, and other senior officials from both countries.
