Nigeria, Denmark Strengthen Partnership On Trade, Investment, Sustainable Devt

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has expressed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening its bilateral partnership with Denmark, describing the relationship between the two countries as strategic and mutually beneficial.

Senator Bagudu made this statement during a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja, when he received the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Nigeria, His Excellency Jens Ole Bach Hansen, and his delegation.

The Minister, who welcomed the ambassador alongside the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, and directors, ministerial aides, and management staff of the ministry, noted that Nigeria values its longstanding relationship with Denmark and is committed to expanding cooperation in critical areas of mutual interest.

According to him, Nigeria’s policy has always been anchored in building strong bilateral partnerships, especially with countries that share a commitment to inclusive growth, sustainable development, and shared prosperity.

“We are quite honoured by this engagement, and the short answer is yes, we want more. We are happy to have more open discussions and to expand our relationship,” Senator Bagudu said.

He acknowledged Denmark’s contributions to global development, noting that the country has consistently demonstrated a commitment to supporting economic growth and sustainable development initiatives.

The minister emphasised the importance of stronger cooperation among nations with shared values, particularly amid emerging global challenges, including rising protectionism, trade tensions, and other economic uncertainties.

He said Nigeria is willing to collaborate with Denmark to promote trade, strengthen peace and security initiatives, share knowledge and resources, and jointly address common challenges, including irregular migration.

Senator Bagudu identified agriculture, livestock development, the digital economy, the blue economy, and the judicial sector as key areas for further strengthening cooperation between both countries.

Speaking about the economic reforms of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, the minister said the Renewed Hope Agenda is focused on addressing decades of underinvestment in critical sectors and on creating an enabling environment for private-sector participation.

He explained that Nigeria is working towards creating a transparent and competitive investment climate in which investors can confidently deploy capital, create value, and achieve sustainable returns.

“Correcting decades of underinvestment across almost all sectors can only be achieved by learning from countries that have successfully solved similar challenges, especially those with strong and vibrant private sectors,” he said.

The minister noted that despite the challenges of implementing reforms, the country is seeing increased investor confidence, particularly in infrastructure development.

He revealed that Nigeria has attracted about $7 billion in infrastructure investment over the past two years, describing this as a significant improvement compared with previous levels.

Senator Bagudu further stated that Nigeria’s reform efforts are gaining international recognition, adding that improved economic confidence is reflected in market indicators, investor interest, and increased capital flows.

He emphasised that the administration remains committed to reforms to strengthen economic stability, enhance productivity, and position Nigeria for sustainable growth.

Welcoming the ambassador and his delegation, the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to expanding the longstanding bilateral relationship to mutual economic benefit.

Earlier, Ambassador Jens Ole Bach Hansen reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Nigeria, describing the relationship between the two countries as built on shared values, mutual respect, and common priorities.

The ambassador commended the minister for his role in strengthening bilateral relations and expressed appreciation for his attendance at Denmark’s National Day Reception.

He said that Denmark and Nigeria share common interests in areas such as democracy, respect for international law, stability, development, and stronger representation of African countries in global institutions.

Ambassador Hansen disclosed that Denmark is expanding its diplomatic presence in Nigeria by establishing a larger embassy and deploying additional diplomatic personnel, including officers focused on politics, defence, agriculture, and other strategic areas.

He explained that the expansion reflects Denmark’s growing commitment to Nigeria and the wider West African region.

The ambassador also highlighted Denmark’s growing commercial engagement with Nigeria, noting the presence of major Danish companies and the recent establishment of the Investment Fund for Developing Countries (IFU) office in Lagos to support sustainable private-sector investments.

He identified agriculture, maritime development and security, and the digital economy as key areas of existing cooperation between the two countries.

According to him, Denmark is also exploring further collaboration with Nigeria across education, culture, the creative economy, and the judicial sector.

Ambassador Hansen noted that Denmark sees positive signs in Nigeria’s economic trajectory and believes that ongoing reforms are creating opportunities for stronger investment partnerships.

He proposed discussions to formalise a broader political partnership framework between Nigeria and Denmark, noting that such an arrangement would provide a structured platform for advancing cooperation across various sectors.

The ambassador recalled Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark’s visit to Nigeria and the discussions held with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on strengthening bilateral relations, expressing hope that both countries would continue to build on the existing foundation.

The visit concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepen cooperation and advance shared economic and development objectives.