France has announced that its volume of trade with Nigeria in 2020 dropped to $2.3 billion from $4.5 billion in 2019 as a result of COVID-19.

The French minister in charge of Foreign Trade and Attractiveness, Frank Riester, disclosed this at a meeting he held with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in Abuja, as part of his two-day official visit to Nigeria.

“We are optimistic of the future, when the crisis will be ending because we have many companies that have settled here. We want a win-win partnership between our two countries.

“We have 100 companies that are settled in Nigeria, representing 10,000 people working in these companies, and we want to increase our investments in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Riester added that France wanted to help develop different states by investing in the private and public sectors to deepen the relationship between Nigeria and France.

He added that as the largest economy in Africa and the economic engine room of West Africa, Nigeria is indeed a major partner for France.

The minister said France was also putting in place measures to allow more Nigerian companies to operate and invest in France.

“Tomorrow, I will meet some Nigerian companies that have already invested in France, as others are willing to invest in the country.

“These companies will be invited to a specific meeting in Paris in June, where President Emmanuel Macron will welcome many companies all over the world, and some of the companies will be from Nigeria because we want more Nigerian investments in France,” said the minister.

Mr Riester added that the government was also putting in place policies that would encourage more Nigerian investment in France, while the French government was also willing to help Nigeria tackle insecurity.

The Chairman of the NGF, Governor Kayode Fayemi, commended France for its interest in Nigeria.

(NAN)