India has expressed its readiness to deepen economic ties with Nigeria as part of measures to promote investment and trade between both countries.
Speaking on Friday during a courtesy visit to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Amb. Abhay Thakur, explained that India and Nigeria had long-standing relations based on mutual respect that predates the independence of the two countries.
Thakur said: ”We are Nigeria’s largest trading partner and the country is our largest trading partner in Africa.
“Our bilateral trade volume reaches $14 billion in 2020 and we export various goods ranging from machinery and agriculture products to the tune of $3.5 billion to Nigeria.”
Thakur called for greater bilateral trade co-operation between Nigeria and India as a way of fostering the existing friendly trade and economic relations between the two countries which dated back to 1960.
In his response, Ganduje said that relations between the countries have been warm and cordial; and have witnessed growth and transformation.
The governor called for effective collaboration between India and Kano on energy, health care and film industry.
He said that Indian farm implements have helped to boost rice production in Nigeria.
Ganduje said that Indian companies are doing very well in the state including an hydro power project and the Indian rice mill in Kano which he said is the biggest in West Africanan.
