In a strategic bid to boost Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings and accelerate the nation’s trajectory toward a $1 trillion economy, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has deepened trade and economic collaboration with the Moscow Export Center (MEC).

The bilateral engagement, aimed at creating structured business-to-business (B2B) links, digital trade integration, and export-driven growth, coincides with preparations for the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for October 28–29 in Moscow.

Highlighting the scale of Moscow’s commercial leverage, the Chief Executive Officer of the Moscow Export Center, Stepanov Vitaly, who led the delegation to Nigeria, emphasised that the Russian capital serves as the principal gateway for bilateral trade, accounting for half of all Russian exports to Nigeria.

He said: “Speaking of numbers, we account for 25 per cent of Russia’s non-energy exports. And if we were to talk about export of services, we account for more than 40 per cent of overall Russia’s export of services, including IT services. We also have a major role in terms of trade and economic relations with Nigeria, because 50 per cent of overall Russia’s export to Nigeria comes from Moscow-based business.

“We are very keen on establishing new economic ties with Nigerian business partners and organizations,” he said.

Vitaly explained that MEC, a regional government agency established in 2017, facilitates foreign market access for Moscow-based exporters, providing state support, marketplace integration, and export grants to cushion high local borrowing costs.

From IT solutions to medical, agriculture, food, and textiles among others, Vitaly said there are more that 16,000 exporting companies in Moscow and a client base of about 5,000 companies that are ready to explore the Nigerian market.

The National President, NACCIMA, Jani Ibrahim, welcomed the Moscow team, affirming that the chamber represents the organised private sector’s primary port of call to safeguard foreign investments and build resilient trade channels amidst shifting global dynamics.

Underlining the high-level commitment behind the economic push, the NACCIMA boss revealed that Nigeria’s Vice President, KashimShettima, is set to lead Nigeria’s delegation to Moscow for the Russia-Africa Summit, where targeted B2B matchmaking will take center stage.

“We will be traveling to Russia next month to explore new economic opportunities. As part of our strategy to diversify into the non-oil sector, we are focusing on attracting greater investment in non-oil industries. This directly aligns with our goal to build a $1 trillion economy in pursuit of the target set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Ibrahim highlighted Nigeria’s rapidly expanding youth market and strong services sector which he said contributes over 54 per cent to national GDP as key leverage points for digital transformation and enterprise expansion across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).