Presidency pledges stronger trade ties with developing countries

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said his administration would continue to support the development of more mutually beneficial trade and economic relations between Nigeria and other developing nations.

Jonathan stated this while receiving the new ambassador of Cuba, Carlos Eleterio Trejo Sosa, and that of Zimbabwe, Lovemore Mazemo, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to a statement, issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, both ambassadors are at the villa to present their letters of credence to Jonathan.

The statement quoted the president as saying that the Federal Government would welcome greater economic ties with Cuba, Zimbabwe and other emerging economies.

He said that this was in keeping with his administration's commitment to privatisation, trade liberalisation and full diversification of the Nigerian economy,

'Nigeria is a very vast economy. We are not just about oil. We have a very vibrant business community that has a global presence in both the service and non-service sectors.

We will encourage these businesses to expand their interests into your economies,' he was quoted as telling his guests.

Jonathan noted that with the full support and encouragement of his administration, Nigerian businesses were already operating successfully in some African and European countries.

He added that those businesses were making commendable progress in the development of entrepreneurial skills, resource mobilisation and global competitiveness.

He wished the new ambassadors successful tenures in the country, and assured them of the full cooperation of the Federal Government as they worked to enhance existing bilateral relations between Nigeria and their countries.

The new ambassadors thanked Jonathan for receiving them and assured him that they would work hard to boost trade and economic relations between their countries and Nigeria.