Nigeria calls for improved ties with Serbia

Nigeria calls for improved ties with Serbia

Nigeria’s Minister for State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri has stressed the need for Serbia to strengthen its level of cooperation with Nigeria in the areas of trade and investment.

Prof. Onwuliri made the call when the Serbian Ambassador, Rifat Rondic, paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja.

She said trade and investment were core areas with Nigeria’s foreign policy.

Prof. Onwuliri said that the two countries needed to do a lot in areas of trade and investment. This is important because the ministry’s new direction is to forge huge trade and investment relationships.

Improving relations

Speaking further, she assured the ambassador of the Nigerian government’s interest in re-opening its embassy in Belgrade, which she said was in progress.

While thanking the ambassador for scholarships offered to Nigerian students, Onwuliri said she was looking forward to seeing more students from Serbia and other countries study in Nigeria.

She noted that this would encourage international relations and understanding among countries.

“Some of them may become ambassadors soon and these programmes will help them to understand and appreciate other cultures,” she explained.

Prof. Onwuliri said the ministry of defence was already working on a memorandum of understanding to strengthen ties with Serbia on security.

The ambassador expressed delight with bilateral ties between both countries, especially in the area of economic cooperation.

He said he was looking forward to Nigeria’s participation in the forthcoming ministerial meeting in Belgrade from September 5 to 6.

NAN/Williams