LAGOS STATE TO RENEW MUTUAL BUSINESS INTEGRATION WITH NETHERLANDS
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The Lagos State Government has indicated that it is eager to deepen its cooperation with the Netherlands in a variety of areas, particularly agriculture, to guarantee food security in the state.
On behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, made this statement while hosting the Netherlands’ Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Mr. Geoffrey Leeuwen, and his counterpart in migration, Mr. Eric van der Burg, at his official residence in Osborne, Ikoyi. She also noted that Nigeria and the Netherlands have had a bilateral relationship for a long time.
He noted that the present administration is ready to strengthen the existing relationship with the Netherlands, in different sectors like agriculture, technology, healthcare, circular economy, and energy among other sectors. “We are willing to implement some of the lessons we have learnt from the Netherlands, particularly to enhance food production and storage, among others”.
Speaking further on the existing relationships between Lagos and the Netherlands, the Deputy Governor said: “The simulation for Eco-Atlantic was done in the Netherlands by a Netherland company and they are still here. So both countries have a lot of history of their relationship both in the Netherlands and in Lagos”.
While hoping that the trade flow between both countries increases, he said that the balance of trade flow between both countries in 2022 was at 8 billion euros, with the hope that it would increase to 16 billion euros. “It is for this reason we have brought experts in different areas to actualise this collaboration”, the Deputy Governor added.
Earlier in his remarks, the Netherlands’ Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, HR Geoffrey van Leeuwen stated that the Dutch Government is committed to promoting sustainable, inclusive growth and transitions in Nigeria through various partnerships.
According to Leeuwen, the Netherlands government is committed to working on transitions that are crucial to the economy and business opportunities in both the Netherlands and Nigeria, with a specific interest in Lagos.
“We are looking forward to continuing our excellent economic cooperation with the Governor and his cabinet. We will continue to bring high-level visits and trade missions to The Center of Excellence”, he said.
The Dutch Minister reiterated that since Nigeria’s independence, the Netherlands has been one of Nigeria’s most important trading partners and vice versa. He emphasised five key business sectors for collaboration, namely Agriculture, IT, Circular Economy, Healthcare and Renewable Energy.
Similarly, the Netherlands Minister for Migration, Mr. Eric van der Burg noted that the Netherlands is committed to its migration partnership with Nigeria, based on mutual priorities as well as to sustainable reintegration and opportunities for youth.
“The Netherlands is committed to working closely with Lagos State, especially within the challenging field of migrant smuggling and human trafficking”, assured Eric van der Burg.
The Minister for Migration said, “Nigeria’s population could double within the next 25 to 30 years. All young people will seek opportunities to create a bright future for themselves. We will work together to create opportunities and plan to create at least 15,000 jobs in the next four years, through various incubation and vocational programmes”.
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