By Gloria Ikibah
The Federal Government and European Union (EU) have held their first-ever Trade and Investment Dialogue in Abuja, what both sides described as a major step in strengthening their economic partnership.
In a statement by the EU, the inaugural Nigeria-EU Senior Officials’ Trade and Investment Dialogue (TID) was co-chaired by Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), and Ms Dora Correia, Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (DG TRADE).
Speaking at the launch, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, MFR, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, His Excellency Gautier Mignot, both welcomed the initiative, and emphasised its importance to the growing partnership between Nigeria and the EU.
They noted that the Dialogue demonstrated the increasing priority both parties were giving to trade and investment as key pillars of cooperation.
“This Senior Officials’ meeting marks an important step in strengthening the trade and investment partnership between the EU and Nigeria, and provided opportunity for the officials to exchange views on areas of mutual interest; address potential challenges and explore opportunities for further collaboration,” the statement read.
Discussions covered a wide range of subjects, including trade and investment policy, tackling market access barriers, preferential arrangements, regulatory frameworks, investment opportunities, and areas of development cooperation.
Both sides also discussed how to deepen collaboration within the World Trade Organization (WTO).
At the end of the session, Nigeria and the EU reaffirmed their shared interest in continuing the Dialogue, with the next meeting scheduled to take place in Brussels, Belgium, in 2026, on a date to be jointly agreed.