The Nigerian German Business Association(NGBA) has announced plan to export hibiscus, charcoal and other non-oil products to Germany to boost trade relations between the two countries.
The Director-General and Chief Executive of NGBA, Mr Gbenga Adebija made this in an interview on Thursday in Lagos.
Adebija said the products included hibiscus, charcoal, rubber, cocoa and cashew nuts.
Adebija said that the aim was to shore up the country’s export to Germany and close the trade deficit between the two countries.
The statistics from the association revealed that the volume of trade between the two countries deteriorated from 5.4 billion Euros in 2014 to 2.9 billion Euros in 2015.
It further fell to 650 million Euros in 2016.
He said the trade volume dropped due to Nigeria’s recent economic recession, foreign exchange fluctuations, and poor perception about Nigerian products, among others.
He said although the trade volume in 2017, being computed, would be higher than that of 2016, there was need to urgently shore up the volume through nonoil export.
“The NGBA had a roundtable in 2016 that involved our over 400 companies, including those in the manufacturing, banking, ICT, automobile, and others.
“Another roundtable will hold in June over the products and other issues militating against trade between the countries will be discussed,” Adebija said.
On the wrong perception about Nigerian products, he said the current administration had done much to erase that perception, adding that many investors were now willing to invest in Nigeria.
