Agric: Nigeria seeks closer relationship with EU



The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arc. Sonny Echono, has restated the importance of the EU-Nigeria Business Forum to the investment drive of government in the agricultural sector.
Arc. Echono stated this during the week, when he received a two-man delegation of the European union (EU) led by the Ambassador and Head of Delegation, Mr. Michel Arrion in his office.
He explained that the opportunity of the business forum would help in promoting the current government plan of developing the agric value chains, now that government is diversifying from oil to agriculture.
Arc. Echono said the ministry’s participation would also provide a platform to discuss the EU ban on the exportation of Nigeria’s beans, which according to him was caused by excessive use of chemicals for preservation, saying other areas of collaboration and cooperation would also be explored.
He said the European Union is supporting Nigeria in the area of cotton where it has a better expertise.
The EU Ambassador and Head of delegation, Mr. Michel Arrion, in his remarks, stated that the EU has a 20-member strong relationship and presence in Nigeria and would be willing to invest in the Nigerian industrial sector especially agriculture.
He therefore called for more business and trade relations between the EU member-states and Nigeria.

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