News in Brief:
– A recent United Nations International Tea Day celebration in Abuja highlighted promising avenues for expanded agricultural trade and cooperation between Nigeria and China.
– Both nations expressed interest in boosting value-added agro-exports and investments.
A recent celebration of the United Nations International Tea Day at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Abuja has sparked interest in increased trade relations and agricultural cooperation between Nigeria and China.
The ‘Tea for Harmony Yaji Cultural Salon’ underscored the deep cultural ties shared by both nations. Also, it laid the groundwork for substantial advancements in the agro-sector.
Historically, the event is held in observance of the United Nations International Tea Day, celebrated annually on May 21st. It aims to raise awareness of tea’s long history and profound cultural and economic significance.
Brewing stronger economic bonds
On this occasion, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Yu Dunhai, articulated the shared cultural values between Nigeria and China.
He said China and Nigeria have many common cultural values, and tea represents harmony, connection, and respect.
Additionally, the Ambassador affirmed China’s strong interest in collaborating with Nigeria on value-added agricultural production.
He said this commitment extends specifically to boosting tea-related trade, advancing agro-processing capabilities, and developing cultural tourism initiatives.
Nigeria’s tea: a pathway to agricultural export diversification
Meanwhile, Mukhtar Mohammed Yawale, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, praised the Chinese Embassy’s foresight.
Also, he offered a historical perspective, recalling Nigeria’s past as a tea exporter to European markets, and said the current occasion is a pivotal moment for innovation in agro-processing, tourism, and creative enterprise.
“Tea is more than a beverage. It is a vessel of history,” Dr. Yawale stated, highlighting its cultural and economic weight.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s indigenous tea production. “Tea is actually indigenous to Nigeria. It is grown on the Mambilla Hills. Highland tea is still available and made in this country,” he noted.
Expanding agro-trade horizons: a shared vision
Meanwhile, the latest trends in agro-trade relations between China and Nigeria indicate a concerted effort to broaden Nigeria’s export base beyond crude oil, with a significant focus on agricultural commodities.
One notable development is China’s willingness to further increase imports of high-quality agricultural products from Nigeria.
Data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows Nigeria’s agricultural exports to the Asian market, including China, reached ₦572.58 billion in the first quarter of 2024, reflecting this growing trend.
Furthermore, Nigeria has secured export approvals for products such as peanuts (groundnuts), sesame seeds, soybeans, and cashew nuts to China.
For instance, in 2023, Nigeria exported oil seeds, raw hides and skins, and coffee, tea, maté, and spices to China, among other agricultural and animal products.
Generally, both governments have actively expressed their intent to bolster bilateral trade in agricultural commodities, with a focus on attracting direct Chinese investment into Nigeria’s agro-processing sector.
