Ambassadors from Nigeria and India push for enhanced commercial relations during joint chamber of commerce gathering

Nigeria and India are poised to fortify their trade and investment relationships, with a delegation led by Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, First Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry and National Vice President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, paying a courtesy visit to the Indian High Commission in Abuja.

The visit, which took place as outlined by ACCI's Media & Strategy Officer Olayemi John-Mensah on Friday, aimed to bolster private sector collaboration and build upon previous engagements, including an October 2025 call between Prof. Adesugba and the High Commissioner to explore deeper economic cooperation between the two nations.

Discussions during the visit focused on establishing an India-Nigeria private sector dialogue, which would provide a structured platform for Nigerian and Indian businesses to meet regularly and pursue joint initiatives, with key sectors identified for collaboration including mining, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, solid minerals, textiles, and gemstones.

Prof. Adesugba underscored the long-standing economic relationship between Nigeria and India, emphasizing his primary objective of establishing a structured India-Nigeria Private Sector Dialogue to facilitate discussions on areas of mutual economic benefit and promote stronger bilateral trade.

He expressed satisfaction that his vision aligns with the plans of the High Commission and reaffirmed his commitment to facilitating deeper commercial partnerships, also highlighting his textile trading company's previous collaborations with partners in Switzerland and Austria and its strong interest in expanding trade relations with India.

The textile sector, according to Prof. Adesugba, offers immediate opportunities in sourcing, manufacturing partnerships, and supply chain development, and he noted his company's interest in tapping into these opportunities.

High Commissioner Abhishek Singh noted the encouraging investment signals emanating from Nigeria and the performance of Nigerian businesses operating in India, identifying several sectors that offer strong potential for collaboration between the two countries, including mining, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, solid minerals, and textiles.

He announced that two textile-related events are scheduled to take place in 2026, with one expected to be held in June, presenting additional opportunities for collaboration between Indian and Nigerian textile businesses.

The High Commissioner nominated Mr Rajiv Saxena, Second Secretary of Commerce & Administration, to work closely with the ACCI delegation in organizing sector-specific engagements, and both sides agreed to follow up on planned activities and priority areas of cooperation.

Prof. Adesugba extended an invitation to the High Commissioner to participate in the 2026 Abuja International Trade Fair, scheduled to take place from September 25 to October 6, to showcase Indian businesses and explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.