The German consulate general in Lagos has hosted a reception for a business delegation from Rheinland-Palatinate to deepen trade relations with Nigeria.

The Rhineland-Palatinate or Rhineland-Pfalz, one of Germany’s 16 federal states, boasts a GDP of €185 billion.

With a strong industrial base and a globally recognised wine sector, the state also combines innovation, manufacturing excellence and agricultural tradition.

The delegation includes representatives from its economy, transport, agriculture, and viniculture, as well as executives from selected companies across different sectors.

Some of these companies are ASSYX, Fritz Stephan GmbH, SSG Schaaf Steel GmbH, Wolfcraft GmbH, Weinhaus Hauck GmbH & Co. KG, Dr Loosen, and Weingut Oekonomierat Lind.

Daniel Krull, the German consul general in Lagos, said German business in Lagos was entering 2026 with optimism, noting that several investment initiatives were already in the pipeline.

Mr Krull described small and medium-sized enterprises as the backbone of German industry, saying many “hidden champions” serving over 130 countries were part of the visiting delegation.

According to Mr Krull, his country values a bottom-up approach to trade relations.

“Business-to-business engagement is the foundation of our economic relations, with government frameworks serving only as support where necessary.

“Engagement at the level of German federal states such as Rheinland-Pfalz highlights the decentralised strength of the German economy and opens additional pathways for cooperation beyond initiatives at the national level. The delegation aims to lay the groundwork for durable economic partnerships that benefit both regions,” Mr Krull said.

He added that German companies were committed to building lasting relationships in Nigeria and that future delegations would cover the agrifood, ICT, solar storage, construction, and infrastructure sectors.

Joe Weingarten, the head of the Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viniculture of Rhineland-Palatinate, ranked Nigeria fourth among its African trade partners after Egypt, Algeria and South Africa.

According to him, with a population of about four million and a GDP of €185 billion, trade between the state and Nigeria exceeded €1.5 billion. He restated that Nigeria’s growing population is a major contributor to his state being a trade partnership destination.

“Eight companies from sectors including wine, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, construction and machinery are in Lagos to explore partnerships and expand regional trade,” he said.

He noted that nearly 70 per cent of German wine was produced in Rheinland-Pfalz and expressed optimism about prospects in Nigeria’s growing consumer market.

The delegation, he said, would hold meetings with chambers of commerce and private firms, describing the visit as a first step toward long-term cooperation in West Africa.

Mr Weingarten further said the state’s focus was economic collaboration, adding that broader political cooperation could evolve over time.

He highlighted Rheinland-Pfalz’s strengths in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, automotive manufacturing and renewable energy, noting that about 60 per cent of the state’s electricity was generated from renewables.

The delegation head said that Germany recognised Nigeria not just as a marketplace, but as a production and trade partner, promoting mutual economic benefits for both countries.

(NAN)