Get Guardian on GoogleDiplomats and international partners have called for stronger trade and investment relations with Nigeria, stressing the need to move beyond conventional import and export transactions to long-term partnerships in agriculture, food processing and tourism.
They made the call at the ninth edition of the CMD Food Tour, held in Abuja on Saturday, with the theme, “Diplomacy on a Plate, From Farm to Foreign Market.”
The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Mahdavi Raja, said both countries had significant opportunities to expand agricultural trade through the exchange of products and investments in their respective markets.
Raja, who identified dates and other agricultural products as areas of potential cooperation, said introducing Iranian products to Nigerian consumers and businesses would be an important first step towards strengthening trade relations.
He, however, stressed that the partnership should go beyond the exportation of goods, urging both countries to prioritise joint ventures and long-term investments.
“The important point is not selling and buying. The important point is to have a joint venture, to have investment, not Iran exporting, for example, to Nigeria.
“Exporting is good, but we have to take a look at the long-term cooperation, which is investment, which is not only exporting and importing,” he said.
The Iranian envoy added that building sustainable trade relations required patience and deliberate efforts to familiarise businesses and consumers with products from both countries.
“One-time transaction is not enough. The important point is to have a long-term approach towards the trade, agricultural and trade cooperation between Iran and Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking, the Ambassador of Tunisia to Nigeria, Mohsen Antit, identified olive oil, harissa, seafood and couscous as some of the country’s products with potential to attract more Nigerian consumers.
Antit who was represented by Deputy Head of Mission, Wassim Elghawthi, described olive oil as an important part of Tunisia’s cultural identity, noting that the country’s production and quality were recognised internationally.
“Olive oil in Tunisia is not only a product, it’s also a culture, also a part of our identity. The quality of Tunisian olive oil is known around the world,” he said.
The envoy expressed hope that the next edition of the food tour would provide an opportunity to announce greater awareness and consumption of Tunisian products in Nigeria.
He called for stronger food trade among African countries, saying regional cooperation would help nations understand and appreciate one another’s cultures.
“We, as African countries, need to exchange more in this regard. We can, so we must do so, which is a bridge between us to introduce ourselves, to get a taste and diplomacy in a dish,” he said.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CMD Tourism and Trade Enterprises Limited, Cécile Mambo, said the initiative was designed to use food as a platform for expanding trade, investment and tourism opportunities among participating countries.
According to her, food represents more than culinary traditions, as it also provides opportunities for cultural exchange, business partnerships and tourism development.
She said the ambition for the next phase of the initiative was to encourage manufacturing investments in Nigeria and other participating countries, while increasing exports and imports through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mambo cited the processing of yam into flour as an example of how agricultural products could generate investment and employment opportunities.
“If I want to set up a factory transforming one food that we have, popular in Nigeria, yam, then we want to start doing maybe yam flour ready for exportation, and then we farm it in Nigeria, we process it in Nigeria, we package it, and we send it.
“We are creating jobs. We are building more investment into the country that way,” she said.
She, however, clarified that ensuring the quality of Nigerian products for export remained the responsibility of relevant government regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Denvik Travels, Ifeanyi Vivian Okonkwo, said food tourism offered an opportunity for people to experience other countries’ cultures before travelling to those destinations.
Okonkwo said culinary exhibitions could stimulate interest in international tourism by introducing visitors to the food and cultural traditions of participating countries.
She said the food tour allowed Nigerians to sample cuisines from countries including Iran, Cameroon and Tunisia, potentially encouraging them to visit those destinations.
The ninth edition of the CMD Food Tour brought together diplomatic missions and other stakeholders to showcase national cuisines, cultural traditions and opportunities for agricultural trade and tourism.
Ghana was featured as the Country of the Day at the event.
