The Brazilian Minister of External Relations, Ernesto Araiijo would be arriving Nigeria on Tuesday for bilateral talks on defense, legal cooperation, trade, and investment.

According to the Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ricardo Guerra de Araujo, who disclosed the visit, the Minister will go straight to talk with high-level authorities in the country with a view to strengthening existing relationships.

They will also be talking about the High-Level Strategic Dialogue Mechanism meeting, which is scheduled for Abuja in March 2020.

“President Jair Bolsonaro is determined to strengthen partnerships with strategic countries such as Nigeria.

“I will meet high-level Nigerian authorities in order to discuss the future of our relations. Nigeria is one of the few countries with which Brazil maintains a High-Level Strategic Dialogue Mechanism.

Its next meeting, scheduled for March 2020, will solidify our partnership in key areas such as trade, investments, defense and legal cooperation”, the visiting Minister stated.

The Minister who is visiting Nigeria for the first time as Foreign Minister described Nigeria as Brazil’s main partner in Western Africa.

“Brazil is also Nigeria’s main partner in South America and is among Nigeria’s 10 most important trade partners worldwide.

“I am convinced that there is still great potential for growth in Nigeria’s economic relations with Brazil.

“We shall encourage initiatives focused on trade liberalisation and greater market access, as well as export diversification, including higher value-added products,” he added.

Araiijo stressed that Brazil has followed closely, the economic changes taking place in Africa, noting that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement will create a market comprising 1.2 billion people.

“As Africa drives global economic growth over the coming decades, Nigeria will certainly be a key player in this process.

“On my way to Nigeria, I bear in mind not only the past but also the present and the future of our relations.

“The results of our joint work will certainly be instrumental to the development of our peoples and to the prosperity of our countries”, he stated.