ABUJA — Nigeria is seeking increased Thai investment and technical expertise in agriculture, agro-processing and food production as both countries move to expand economic cooperation and strengthen food security.
The call was made at the inaugural Nigeria–Thailand Bilateral Consultations Meeting held in Abuja on Monday, according to a statement signed by Oluwafemi Timothy Adeniyi, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.
The Nigerian delegation was led by Ambassador Grema Garba, Director of the Regions Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Thai delegation was led by Mrs. Sirilak Nyom, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
The consultations provided an opportunity for both countries to review bilateral relations and identify practical areas for expanded cooperation. They also served to operationalise 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.
Agriculture emerged as a priority area, with Nigeria expressing interest in Thailand’s expertise in rice production, cassava processing, aquaculture, agricultural machinery and food processing.
Nigeria also encouraged greater Thai investment in its agricultural value chains as part of efforts to expand economic cooperation and strengthen food security.
The two countries identified additional opportunities in agro-processing, oil and gas, renewable energy, manufacturing, mining, healthcare, tourism, information and communications technology and infrastructure.
Discussions also covered the possible operationalisation of the Joint Trade Committee, alongside increased private-sector engagement and measures to facilitate trade and investment.
Nigeria and Thailand established diplomatic relations in 1962 and reaffirmed the cordial and mutually beneficial nature of their relationship.
Both sides recognised the complementary opportunities offered by Nigeria as a gateway to the African market and Thailand as a gateway to Southeast Asia and the wider Asian market.
The consultations also addressed visa and consular issues. Nigeria raised concerns over visa procedures affecting Nigerian businesspeople, investors, students and tourists travelling to Thailand and called for greater transparency, efficiency and predictability in processing.
Migration management, trafficking in persons, migrant smuggling, protection of nationals, repatriation and prisoner-transfer arrangements were also discussed.
On security, Nigeria and Thailand reaffirmed the importance of strengthening cooperation against drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, online scams and other forms of transnational organised crime.
Thailand highlighted its cooperation with Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the proposed Memorandum of Understanding on narcotic drug control and suppression.
The Thai delegation also introduced the SHIELD database for information-sharing on scams and human trafficking and expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation in intelligence sharing, digital forensics, law-enforcement coordination and capacity building.
The two countries further explored 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.
On international affairs, Nigeria and Thailand reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, international peace and security and a rules-based international order.
Both countries supported comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council to ensure equitable representation for Africa and stronger participation of developing countries in global decision-making.
Nigeria welcomed Thailand’s Thailand-Africa Initiative and expressed readiness to support stronger Thai engagement with the African Union and ECOWAS.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional developments, including insecurity in West Africa and the Sahel, and agreed to continue consultations on cooperation within multilateral organisations.
The consultations ended with both sides expressing satisfaction with the outcome and a determination 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 and indicated its interest in advancing outstanding bilateral agreements.
