Nigeria and Thailand have signed a memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation as both countries seek to deepen trade, investment, skills development and technology exchange.
The agreement was signed in Abuja by Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu and Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.
The framework is expected to support cooperation in agriculture, technology, innovation, skills development and sustainable development.
Odumegwu Ojukwu said Nigeria wanted to move the bilateral relationship beyond traditional areas of engagement toward a broader economic partnership.
She welcomed Thailand’s Africa initiative and called for stronger cooperation between the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency.
The minister also urged expansion of the Thailand Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Technology Development Project.
She said deeper cooperation in agricultural research and technology could improve productivity, strengthen food security and create opportunities for businesses and farmers.
Nigeria also wants Thai investors to look beyond existing trade in crude oil, rice and agricultural machinery.
Potential sectors identified include agro processing, manufacturing, energy, information technology, mining and renewable energy.
Odumegwu Ojukwu proposed a Joint or Bi National Commission that would provide a permanent structure for economic dialogue and implementation of agreements.
Several bilateral agreements covering investment protection, trade and technical cooperation remain under discussion.
The minister also called for closer engagement between ASEAN and ECOWAS.
Thailand said Nigeria’s size and economic importance made it a strategic partner in Africa.
For Nigeria, closer ties could provide access to Thai industrial expertise and investment.
For Thailand, Nigeria offers a large domestic market and a gateway to West Africa.
Both governments said the value of the new agreement would ultimately depend on whether it produced concrete projects, investment and sustained private sector partnerships.
