THUR APRIL 25 2024-theGBJournal| Netherlands Prime Minister, Mark Rutte said he looks forward with confidence to an even closer partnership between the Netherlands and Nigeria after he met with President Bola Tinubu, who is on a State visit, at his residence today.
”We discussed new ways of unlocking the great potential of our trade ties, particularly in the areas of renewable energy and agriculture,” Rutte said on his X handle.
Dutch foreign minister, Hanke Bruins Slot, joined Rutte to welcome the Nigerian President to his residence.
Rutte described Nigeria as a major partner for the Netherlands and expressed his appreciation for migration partnership between the two countries, ”which we’re using to combat human trafficking and enhance the future prospects of young Nigerians.”
Dutch Prime Minister said that the security situation in Nigeria and the wider West African region was another topic he and President Tinubu discussed.
President Tinubu earlier shed light on the booming trade relations between the two countries, with key exports ranging from refined petroleum to cocoa beans.
The Netherlands exports to Nigeria totaled $6.47 billion in 2022 with refined petroleum ($5.61 billion), non-fillet frozen fish ($205 million) and coated flat-rolled iron($54 million).
Nigeria on the other hand exported crude petroleum valued at $3.8 billion, cocoa beans valued at $189 million and petroleum gas valued at $151 million.
Meanwhile, Bruins Slot re-echoed the strong bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands during his meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar at the Hague, noting that the broad partnership covers areas like trade, investment and migration.
Both Foreign Ministers explored opportunities to further expand cooperation, discussed global and regional developments, including Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts as well as human rights.
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