Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria and Brazil have agreed to implement the agro-trade market access initiatives to deepen economic ties and boost agricultural productivity.

Mr Shettima said this during a high-level Nigeria–Brazil meeting on the milestones recorded so far under the initiative at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.

The initiative was under the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM), co-chaired by Mr Shettima and his Brazilian counterpart, Geraldo Alckmin.

According to the vice president, both countries will roll out bilateral agriculture and livestock partnerships under the initiative.

Mr Shettima noted that the coast was now clear for private sector operators in both nations to commence trade in the commodities involved in the partnership.

He said the two countries’ diplomatic commitment has translated into tangible results.

The vice president said the development was the outcome of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil and the sustained efforts of SDM.

“We have moved with deliberate steps from dialogue to delivery, from agreements to implementation, and from shared ambition to outcomes that can be counted, weighed, and shipped.

“This is precisely how enduring partnerships evolve,” he declared.

Mr Shettima noted that the Joint Agriculture and Livestock Technical Working Group was now operational, with active thematic action sub-groups on dairy and livestock genetics, soybean productivity, and others.

He recalled that Mr Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart have observed that the volume of bilateral agricultural trade between the two economies fell far short of what both nations’ endowments permit.

The vice president said the two leaders have instructed their respective governments to identify opportunities to accelerate trade, investment, and technical cooperation.

“The market access milestones we announce are the product of months of disciplined collaboration between our ministries, our regulatory authorities, our technical experts, and our private sector partners,” he stated.

Earlier, Brazilian Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Andre Filho, who led the delegation, expressed satisfaction with the progressive results emerging from the Nigeria–Brazil Accelerated Agricultural Trade Initiative.

Mr Filho noted that the commitments in areas of agriculture, food security, energy, defence, and investment reflect a shared vision of development and prosperity.

He added, “As part of the understanding reached between both governments, Brazil is committed to opening its market to Nigerian exports of hibiscus, sesame, and shea butter.

“I am pleased to inform you that the technical staff of Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is in the final stages of preparing the phytosanitary certificate proposal required to enable these exports.

“Once this work is completed, we will also facilitate contacts between Nigerian exporters and potential Brazilian buyers.”

On his part, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa commended the Nigeria–Brazil partnership, stressing that his state contributes 75 per cent of the country’s non-oil exports.

He assured of the state government’s commitment to playing its part in ensuring the partnership’s success.

Similarly, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari said the partnership agreement was already fast-tracking trade relations between the two countries.

He assured that the renewed bilateral journey Nigeria has embarked upon with Brazil under Tinubu’s administration is on course to fast-track agricultural exports.

(NAN)