In a bid to strengthen trade and investment ties between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Netherlands, both nations are currently engaged in talks to establish a Joint Bi-National Commission. This initiative comes as a follow-up to President Bola Tinubu’s recent open invitation to countries interested in conducting business with Nigeria.
During the Nigeria-Netherlands Economic Consultation meeting held in Abuja, Ambassador Adamu Lamuwa, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed the keen interest of Nigeria in establishing the Joint Commission. The meeting aimed to enhance bilateral relations in various sectors of the economy and was attended by a Dutch delegation.
Ambassador Lamuwa, represented by Bolaji Akinremi, the Director of the Economic, Trade, and Investment Department, highlighted the substantial volume of trade between the two countries and the significant presence of Dutch companies in Nigeria. Prominent companies such as Royal Dutch Shell Petroleum, Friesland Campina, Heineken, and Unilever have established their operational base in Nigeria.
He further emphasized that despite the longstanding bilateral relations, no Joint/Bi-National Commission Agreement has been established between the two countries since negotiations began in 1987. Consequently, the Nigerian government seeks to reopen negotiations, recognizing the potential for a Joint Commission to further strengthen and consolidate relations between the two nations.
The Vice-Minister for Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ms. Hanneke Schuiling, led the Dutch delegation at the meeting. She acknowledged the deep-rooted trade and investment relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands, with Dutch companies contributing significantly to employment and income in Nigeria. Ms. Schuiling identified agriculture, IT, healthcare, and renewable energy as areas of high potential for collaboration, expressing the Dutch private sector’s readiness to add value for the mutual benefit of both nations.
The consultation meeting witnessed the participation of several federal government agencies and parastatals, including the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, and the Nigerian Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), among others.
Key Highlights
- Nigeria and the Kingdom of Netherlands are engaged in talks to establish a Joint Bi-National Commission, aiming to enhance trade and investment ties between the two nations.
- The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adamu Lamuwa, expressed Nigeria’s interest in reopening negotiations for the establishment of the Joint Commission, recognizing the remarkable economic cooperation between the countries.
- The Vice-Minister for Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ms. Hanneke Schuiling, emphasized the potential for collaboration in agriculture, IT, healthcare, and renewable energy, highlighting the importance of updating the existing bilateral investment treaty to strengthen economic relations.
