•Says trade hits $203,888m in 1st quarter of 2023
By Emma Emeozor
Though Nigeria and Taiwan do not have diplomatic relations, they maintain trade relations. In this interview, Nigeria’s Representative in Taiwan, Mr. Dipo Adegoke, highlights the volume of trade between Abuja and Taipei. He also comments on the challenges facing the mission.
How would you assess the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Taiwan, especially in the absence of formal diplomatic ties?
Nigeria and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic cities since Nigeria recognized the One-China policy, which considers Taiwan a part of China. However, there have been some bilateral ties between Nigeria and Taiwan, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, both countries have maintained friendly relationship and cooperative relations.
What is the future of the friendship between the two countries? Can you highlight the benefit (s) Nigeria could gain from Taiwan?
The future is bright for both Nigeria and Taiwan economically. There are many investment opportunties in Nigeria for Taiwanese companies, such as agricultural and food processing, machinery as well as automobiles products. Taiwan has advanced technology when it comes to food processing and the exchange of skills and technology, which can benefit Nigeria.
What is your office doing to promote or encourage ‘People-to-People’ relationship between the citizens?
The Nigeria Trade Office has the following functions:
* Liaising with government functionaries in Taiwan including top government
officials to facilitate trade and investment between Nigeria and Taiwan.
* Assist Nigerian and Taiwanese businessmen to develop and exploit mutual trade
and investment opportunties in the two countries.
* Provide information on exportable non-oil commodities from Nigeria.
* Respond to business enquiries on Nigeria, provide Status Reports on Nigerian
companies and process trade complaints, as a means to improve and sustain the
interest of Taiwanese investors in the Nigerian economy.
* Provide business linkages to the organized private sector in Nigeria e.g. Chambers
of Commerce, Manufacturers Association, etc.
* Undertake market surveys for the guidance of Nigerian exporters and Nigerian
companies interested in doing business with Taiwan.
* Provide counselling and information on trade and investment regulations, export
requirements and market situations.
* Provide consular services in furtherance of trade relations between Nigeria and
Taiwan.
*Promote arts, culture and tourism.
With the above functions, the office will promote people-to-people relationships, improve public welfare, and improve quality of life for citizens.
Besides trade, are there plans for exchange programmes between the two countries? If yes, what areas are you considering? And if no, why?
Promote arts, culture and tourism. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country is home to over 250 ethnic groups speaking over 500 languages, with a warm tropical climate and a unique variety of cultures, art, music, film, fashion, food and tourism waiting for Taiwanese to be experienced.
What would you say is the challenge facing the Nigerian office in Taiwan?
* The One-China policy refers to the diplomatic acknowledgement of China’s position that there is only one sovereign state under the name China, including the island of Taiwan.
* The Nigerian government, in alignment with the political objectives of Mainland China, directed Taiwan to relocate its trade mission office from Abuja (the capital) to Lagos. Consequently, the Nigerian office in Taipei City was compelled to move to New Taipei City. It is expected that the office will be able to move back to Taipei City in the near future.
* Also, language is a major challenge but this is being tackled through the process of translating publications, banners, and EDMs (Electrical Direct Message) to Chinese. The TC will enroll in a Chinese lesson soon.
. . . As Taipei sues for long-term investment promotion
Adegoke is not alone in his optimism over the acceleration of trade growth between Nigeria and Taiwan. Daily Sun recalls that the Representative of Taiwan Trade Office in Nigeria Mr Andy Yih-Ping Liu had, in a chat with the media, called for the removal of obstacles that impede smooth flow of trade relations and the mutual development and growth of both partners.
It was in this regard that he said, “The trade mission should do away with obstacles to communication with the provision of government-to-government dialogue on establishing an agreement for mutual trust and mutual trade between the two countries.
At the time, the envoy said “there was a need for the Nigerian government to renew the trade agreement it had with the country to create a safer investment climate for Taiwanese companies in Nigeria and Nigerian companies operating in Taiwan.
“Currently we would like to do the short-term trade promoting and at the same time doing the long-term investment promotion, but the most important thing is that the Nigerian government needs to renew the investment protection agreement with us so that both sides can have a secure investment climate for both Nigeria investing in Taiwan and Taiwan in investing in Nigeria.”
He expressed the readiness of Taiwan to assist Nigeria advance its industrialisation efforts. “Since Taiwanese industrialisation has gone just beyond labour intensive to high technology, I am assuring you that in future, Taiwan will be interested in daily life products that would move up to the level of high technology.
“While we have given our labour-intensive products, we have also keep hand tool, computer and a lot of good machinery in Taiwan, including high technology for healthcare and machinery we are ready to pay more attention to these items in the near future,” he said.
Liu said Taiwanese investors are looking to expand their footprint in Nigeria with local plants instead of focusing only on exporting to Nigeria, adding that Taiwan could make Nigeria a hub for steel pipe where it would reach other African markets.
Currently, Nigeria exports sesame, groundnut and petroleum products are being shipped to Taiwan while it imports automobile parts, hand tools and machinery for agriculture, among others from Taiwan.
