Nigeria and the Kingdom of Netherlands are to establish a joint bi-national commission to boost existing trade and investment ties.
The Director Economic, Trade and Investment Department in the Ministry, Bolaji Akinremi, made this known while welcoming a delegation from the Netherlands, which was in Abuja for the Nigeria- Netherlands Economic Consultation meeting to strengthen bilateral ties in various sectors of the economy.
Mr Akinremi represented the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adamu Lamuwa.
He said the joint commission became necessary following the volume of trade between both countries was very significant as many Dutch Companies have their operational base in Nigeria.
Some of the Dutch Companies include Royal Dutch Shell Petroleum, Friesland Campina, Heineken, Pladis, DAF Trucks, P Phillips, TNT, KLM, Royal Haskoning, Primstar, VliscO, Unilever, Fugro, VanVliet, APM Terrmincl, and Bosman van Zaal.
He said despite the longstanding bilateral relations with the Netherlands there was no joint or bi-National Commission Agreement between the two countries, adding that Negotiation for the establishment of a Joint Commission has been inconclusive since 1987.
In her remarks, Vice-Minister for Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who led the Dutch Delegation to the meeting, Ms Hanneke Schuiling said Nigeria and the Kingdom of Netherlands see a high potential in four areas including agriculture, IT, healthcare and renewable energy.
She pointed out that the Dutch private sector could add value for the mutual benefit of Nigeria and the Netherlands.
The Consultation meeting had many Federal Government Agencies and Parastatals Including the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Nigerian Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) in attendance.
