Vice-President Kashim Shettima says the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federative Republic of Brazil have agreed to implement the Agro-Trade Market Access Initiatives, designed to deepen economic ties and boost agricultural productivity.
Shettima said this during a high-level Nigeria–Brazil meeting on the milestones so far recorded under the initiative at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja on Monday.
The initiative was under the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM), co-chairman by Shettima and his Brazilian counterpart, Mr Geraldo Alckmin.
According to the vice president, both countries will roll out bilateral agriculture and livestock partnerships under the initiative.
He expressed deep satisfaction with the major milestones recorded by both countries under the initiative.
He noted that the coast was now clear for private sector operators in both nations to commence trade in the commodities involved in the partnership.
He said that the diplomatic commitment of the two countries has transitioned into tangible results.
According to him, the true measure of global partnership was not in the agreements signed but, in their implementation, and the benefits accruing to citizens of the countries.
He said that the development was the outcome of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil and the sustained efforts of SDM.
“We have moved with deliberate steps from dialogue to delivery, from agreements to implementation and from shared ambition to outcomes that can be counted, weighed and shipped.
“This is precisely how enduring partnerships evolve,” he declared.
Shettima applauded the milestones recorded under the Nigeria-Brazil Agriculture and Livestock Cooperation Framework, established under the SDM.
He noted that the Joint Agriculture and Livestock Technical Working Group was now operational, with active thematic action sub-groups on dairy and livestock genetics, soybean productivity, and others.
He recalled that Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart have observed that the volume of bilateral agricultural trade between the two economies fell far short of what both nation’s endowments permit.
The vice president said that the two leaders have instructed their respective governments to identify the opportunities capable of accelerating trade, investment and technical cooperation.
He explained that the milestones recorded so far were the product of months of disciplined collaboration.
“I am pleased that we can today report the first tangible fruits of that presidential directive.
“The market access milestones we announce are the product of months of disciplined collaboration between our ministries, our regulatory authorities, our technical experts and our private sector partners.
“They show what becomes possible when political leadership is matched by strong institutions and by the humility to do the unglamorous work of implementation,” he stated.
Earlier, Andre Filho, Brazilian Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, who led the delegation expressed satisfaction with the progressive results emerging from the Nigeria–Brazil Accelerated Agricultural Trade Initiative.
He noted that the commitments in areas of agriculture, food security, energy, defence, and investment reflect a shared vision of development and prosperity.
He said Brazil was equally committed to expanding access for Nigerian products to the Brazilian market.
He added that, “as part of the understanding reached between both governments, Brazil is committed to opening its market to Nigerian exports of hibiscus, sesame, and shea butter.
“I am pleased to inform you that the technical staff of Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is in the final stages of preparing the phytosanitary certificate proposal required to enable these exports.
“Once this work is completed, we will also facilitate contacts between Nigerian exporters and potential Brazilian buyers.
“We will create concrete commercial opportunities for these products in the Brazilian market,” he added.
On his part, Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa, commended the Nigeria–Brazil partnership, stressing that Jigawa contributes 75 per cent of the country’s non-oil exports.
He assured the state government’s commitment to play its part to ensure the success of the Brazil–Nigeria partnership.
Similarly, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said the partnership agreement was already fast-tracking trade relations between the two countries.
He explained that Nigeria considers Brazil as a model of a country that has transformed itself into one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions.
He assured that the renewed bilateral journey Nigeria has embarked upon with Brazil under Tinubu’s administration is on course to fast-track agricultural exports.
