Mexico and Nigeria are committed to scaling up their bilateral trade relations, with a relatively low current value of approximately $180 million.

Mr Miranda said of this amount, Mexico recently committed about $100 million to import from Nigeria’s hibiscus flowers, locally known as zobo, in high demand in Mexico.

Mexican ambassador to Nigeria Alfredo Miranda said this in an interview in Abuja on Monday.

He said that to enhance the trade relations between the two countries, two Mexican business delegations visited Nigeria recently, adding, “It’s a work in progress.”

“The main challenge is that most Mexican businessmen prefer to do business with the U.S. because of our close proximity and their prompt payments,” the envoy added.

The diplomat said Mexico’s strategic geographical location in Central America, which is close to the U.S., makes it a gateway to Latin America.

Mexico’s foreign policy thrust, according to the ambassador, is anchored on the principles, which are recognized in Article 89, Section 10, of the country’s constitution.

He said these included respect for international law, equality of sovereign states and their independence, and non-intervention in other countries’ domestic affairs.

Mr Miranda added that promoting bilateral relations and multilateral cooperation were among Mexico’s foreign policy principles.

(NAN)