The federal government has solicited for the support of Iran for the election of its candidate, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next director general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Okonjo-Iweala is among the five candidates shortlisted to contest for the post of director general which was vacated by Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo in August, one year before end of tenure.
The others are Kenyan minister, Amina Mohamed, South Korean trade minister, Yoo Myung-hee, Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri and British ex-minister, Liam Fox.
Speaking with the Iranian ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Alibak in Abuja, the minister of industry, trade and investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo said Okonjo-Iweala’s election victory will strengthen global trade and economies.
He said Nigeria would rely on Iran’s support for her victory stressing that if elected it would be the first time an African will occupy the position since the establishment of WTO on January 1, 1995.
Adebayo further said the Bilateral Trade Agreements (BTA) earlier signed between the two countries in 2001, the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) in 2008, the establishment of the Nigeria-Iran Joint Commission in 2004, and the Iran Chamber, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture in 2016 should be sustained.
He assured the envoy that Nigeria will work with Iran to improve on the current low trade volumes as both countries have great potential that can leverage on considering the fact that the two countries are oil-dependent economies.
“We can also share knowledge and best practices on economic diversification and our national development goals as Buhari’s led Administration is pushing to diversify the economy into the non-oil sector through various initiatives and a strategic partnership in the industrialization of key sectors that can boost efforts towards export of Iran and Nigeria,” he said.
Adebayo called on Iranian Investors to come to Nigeria to invest in the numerous export processing zones (EPZs) in the country in view of the various incentives available to investors and to pursue partnerships in our economic development initiatives in sectors such as; fertilizer production, tractor assembly, Persian rug manufacturing, mine and steel industries as well as garment production.
Earlier, Alibak had pledged Iran’s willingness to help Nigeria in the areas of technology development, water supply, and engineering among others.
He added that an invitation will be sent to the minister to visit the Agricultural Industrial Machinery Show in Iran.
The envoy Alibak further stressed on the need to have a joint commission between the two countries as Nigeria is one of the best countries in Africa in terms of trade with Iran.
