Mexico–Nigeria relations

Mexico-Nigeria relations

Mexico
Nigeria

Mexico-Nigeria relations refers to the diplomatic relations between Mexico and Nigeria.

History

Nigerian President Shehu Shagari attending the North–South Summit in Cancun along with his Mexican counterpart, President José López Portillo; 1981

Mexico and Nigeria are two regional power nations in Latin America and Africa, respectively. Both nations established diplomatic relations with each other on 14 April 1976.[1] Three months after establishing diplomatic relations, Mexico opened an embassy in Lagos, however, the embassy was closed in 1979 due to financial restraints. In 1981, Nigeria opened an embassy in Mexico City and later closed its diplomatic mission two years later in 1983. Nigeria re-opened its embassy in Mexico in 2000 and Mexico followed suit by opening an embassy in Abuja (the new capital of Nigeria since 1991) in 2008.[1]

In 1981, Nigerian President Shehu Shagari attended a summit for Heads of States where he met with his counterpart, Mexican President José López Portillo and leaders of other nations.[2] Since 2000, bilateral relations and high level meetings between both nations have steadily increased. In March 2002, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo paid his first visit to Mexico to attend the Monterrey Consensus conference being held in Monterrey northern Mexico.[3] In September 2002, former President Vicente Fox became the first Mexican head of state to pay an official visit to Nigeria.[4] In September 2005, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo reciprocated the visit by paying an official visit to Mexico in September 2005.[5] Since then, there have been several lower level visits by ministers of both nations.

Trade relations

In 2000, two-way trade between Mexico and Nigeria amounted to $24 million USD. By 2014, trade between the two nations totaled $575 million USD.[6] Mexico's main exports to Nigeria include: building materials, cement, machinery and electronics while Nigeria's main exports to Mexico include: natural gas and sesame seeds.[6] Nigeria is Mexico's 55th biggest trading partner globally and second biggest trading partner in Africa (after South Africa).[1] Mexican multinational companies such as Cemex operate in Nigeria. In December 2014 a Nigeria-Mexico Chamber of Commerce was created between both nations and is based in Abuja.[7] Many foreign investors from Mexico have also expressed their interest in Nigeria's potential for Agriculture. Companies such as the San Carlos Group are currently partnering with the government of Cross River State to establish a Banana plantation in the state and create employment for its people.[8] In Enugu State, the company had signed an MoU with the government for the cultivation, production and export of pineapples under a public–private partnership model. This involves the development of 1,000ha of MD-2 pineapple at a cost of US$29,880,519. Over 300ha of pineapples have been developed and planted by San Carlos so far, while sales commenced in December 2014.[9]

Resident diplomatic missions

References

  1. 1 2 3 Historical relations between Mexico and Nigeria (in Spanish)
  2. ↑ Reagan meets with Chinese and Mexican Leaders
  3. ↑ Heads of State at the Monterrey Consensus Summit (in Spanish)
  4. ↑ Proceso: Ante el presidente de Nigeria, Fox llama a respetar los derechos humanos (in Spanish)
  5. ↑ Nigerian President Decries Chauvinistic Attitudes at Home During Visit to Mexico
  6. 1 2 Mexican Ministry of the Economy: Trade between Mexico and Nigeria (in Spanish)
  7. ↑ Nigeria-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  8. ↑ "Mexico,Cross River to Establish 3,000 Hectares of Banana Plantation". Thisday. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "Enugu San Carlos Farm". En.gov.ng. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  10. ↑ Embassy of Mexico in Abuja (in English, French and Spanish)
  11. ↑ Embassy of Nigeria in Mexico City (in Spanish)
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