Nigeria and Brazil have agreed to move forward with the implementation of agro-trade market access initiatives aimed at strengthening economic relations and improving agricultural productivity in both countries.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this during a high-level meeting between Nigeria and Brazil held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday to review progress recorded under the initiative.
The programme is being implemented under the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM), which is jointly chaired by Vice President Shettima and Brazil’s Vice President, Geraldo Alckmin.
According to Shettima, the two countries are set to begin implementing bilateral partnerships in agriculture and livestock development under the framework of the initiative.
He explained that all necessary arrangements had been concluded, paving the way for private sector operators in both countries to commence trade in commodities covered by the partnership.
The vice president noted that the strong diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Brazil was now yielding measurable economic outcomes.
He attributed the progress to President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil and the sustained engagement facilitated through the Strategic Dialogue Mechanism.
“We have moved with deliberate steps from dialogue to delivery, from agreements to implementation, and from shared ambition to outcomes that can be counted, weighed, and shipped.
“This is precisely how enduring partnerships evolve,” he declared.
Shettima revealed that the Joint Agriculture and Livestock Technical Working Group had become fully operational, with specialised action groups already working on areas including dairy development, livestock genetics and soybean productivity.
He recalled that President Tinubu and the Brazilian president had previously observed that agricultural trade volumes between both countries remained significantly below their true potential despite the vast resources available to each nation.
According to him, both leaders subsequently directed their governments to identify practical measures for accelerating trade, investments and technical cooperation between the two economies.
“The market access milestones we announce are the product of months of disciplined collaboration between our ministries, our regulatory authorities, our technical experts, and our private sector partners,” he stated.
Earlier, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Andre Filho, who led the Brazilian delegation, expressed satisfaction with the progress made under the Nigeria-Brazil Accelerated Agricultural Trade Initiative.
Filho said the commitments reached in agriculture, food security, energy, defence and investment demonstrated a common aspiration for economic development and prosperity.
He added, “As part of the understanding reached between both governments, Brazil is committed to opening its market to Nigerian exports of hibiscus, sesame, and shea butter.
“I am pleased to inform you that the technical staff of Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is in the final stages of preparing the phytosanitary certificate proposal required to enable these exports.
“Once this work is completed, we will also facilitate contacts between Nigerian exporters and potential Brazilian buyers.”
Also speaking, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State applauded the growing partnership between Nigeria and Brazil, noting that Jigawa accounts for 75 per cent of Nigeria’s non-oil exports.
He pledged the commitment of the state government to supporting initiatives that would ensure the success of the collaboration.
In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the agreement was already helping to accelerate trade relations between the two countries.
Kyari expressed confidence that the renewed bilateral engagement initiated under President Tinubu’s administration would significantly boost Nigeria’s agricultural export potential and strengthen trade ties with Brazil.
