Nigeria and Thailand have resolved to further boost trade relations between them, targeting $3 billion USD trade volume by 2018.
Consequently, both countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Establishment of Bilateral Consultations to serve as vehicle for achieving the target.
Olugbenga Ashiru, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister told newsmen in Abuja on Monday at the end of political consultation between him and his Thailand counterpart, Surapong Tovicchakchaikul who is visiting Nigeria.
Ashiru, expressed optimism that the MoU, will deepen and expand the level of political consultations between both countries on matters of regional and international interest.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister who doubles as the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, said they will be willing to assist Nigeria to develop the nation’s processing ability in rice and cassava, with a view to adding value to the country’s agricultural production.
Nigeria on its part agreed to provide teachers in English Language to Thailand under the Technical Aid Corp programme.
“This is the first visit by a high ranking Government minister from Thailand. To us, it is a sign of better things to come between Thailand and Nigeria. We have discussed the number of areas and we look towards improving the level of bi-lateral relations between Nigeria and Thailand. We have identified the areas of further future cooperation especially in the key sector of economic development, Agriculture been one of them.
“They have promised to assist Nigeria in terms of adding value to our own rice production in the country. We also discussed about cooperation in adding value to our cassava production. Nigeria today is the largest producer of cassava crop (tapioka) in the world today but we want to add more value to it in terms of having more declarative, like going into cassava starch, cassava syrup and they promise assistant to Nigeria in these field.
“We have expressed the desire to seek cooperation with Thailand in terms of helping Nigeria to improve on our own rice production locally in Nigeria because we want to reduce the level of our rice import from other countries and since Thailand have the experience, they have the man power, and they have the technical capability,” Nigeria’s Foreign Minister explained.
He also had this to say on Thailand’s request for English teachers under the technical aid corps, “we have agreed to that request that we will be able to send qualified teachers to teach in Thai schools English language specifically and we believe this is also a welcome development in terms of promotion of bi-lateral ties between Thailand and Nigeria.”
Thailand also pledged to support for Nigeria’s quest for United Nations non-permanent Security Council seat, as well as for the position of President of the Governing Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Both Ministers also discussed the implementation of the Prisoner Transfer Agreement, cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries, Development Cooperation, including technical assistance and exchange of volunteers, relations with ECOWAS, and the sharing of experiences on Thai Healthcare Delivery System, among others.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Tovichakchaikul, in his remarks expressed delight that the bilateral talks were fruitful; noting thaat it symbolizes his country’s strong desire for closer relations with Nigeria.
