Nigeria, Thailand Target Stronger Trade, Security and Investment Ties

Nigeria and Thailand have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, security, technology and other strategic sectors following their inaugural Bilateral Consultations Meeting in Abuja.

The meeting brought together senior officials from both countries to review bilateral relations, exchange views on regional and global developments and identify practical areas for expanded cooperation.

Nigeria was represented by the Director of the Regions Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Grema Garba, while the Thai delegation was led by the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Sirilak Nyom.

According to a statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, the consultations also operationalised the Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Bilateral Consultations, signed during the visit of Thailand’s then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to Nigeria in 2023.

Nigeria and Thailand, which established diplomatic relations in 1962, identified trade and investment, agriculture, food security, energy, manufacturing, mining, healthcare, tourism, ICT and infrastructure as priority areas for expanded cooperation.

Agriculture, investment take centre stage

Agriculture emerged as one of the key areas of interest, with Nigeria seeking to benefit from Thailand’s experience in rice production, cassava processing, aquaculture, agricultural machinery and food processing.

The two countries also discussed increased Thai investment in Nigeria’s agricultural value chains and the possible activation of the Joint Trade Committee to facilitate trade and strengthen private-sector engagement.

Nigeria raises visa concerns

The consultations also addressed consular, migration and visa-related matters.

Nigeria raised concerns over visa procedures affecting its businesspeople, investors, students and tourists travelling to Thailand.

The Nigerian side called for greater transparency, efficiency and predictability in the visa process to facilitate legitimate travel and strengthen people-to-people and business relations.

Both countries also discussed trafficking in persons, migrant smuggling, protection of nationals, repatriation and prisoner-transfer arrangements.

Nigeria, Thailand strengthen security cooperation

On security, the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation against drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, online scams and other forms of transnational organised crime.

Thailand expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with Nigerian law-enforcement agencies through intelligence sharing, digital forensics, information exchange and capacity building.

The two sides also welcomed expanded technical cooperation through the Thailand International Cooperation Agency, including training, scholarships and institutional partnerships in agriculture, food innovation, climate resilience, renewable energy and digital technology.

Both countries back stronger multilateral cooperation

Nigeria and Thailand reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, international peace and security, regional integration and reform of the United Nations Security Council to ensure more equitable representation for Africa and other developing countries.

Nigeria welcomed Thailand’s Thailand-Africa Initiative and expressed readiness to support stronger Thai engagement with the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States.

The two sides also exchanged views on developments in West Africa and the Sahel, emphasising dialogue, confidence-building and coordinated responses to insecurity.

The consultations ended with both countries expressing satisfaction with the outcome and pledging to translate the discussions into concrete programmes and deliverables.

Thailand offered to host the second round of the Nigeria-Thailand Bilateral Consultations in Bangkok on a mutually agreed date, while Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the longstanding friendship and mutually beneficial partnership between both countries.