Nigeria and Thailand are exploring fresh opportunities to expand their bilateral cooperation, with technology, agriculture, renewable energy and commerce identified as key areas for deeper engagement.

According to Channels Television, the development was disclosed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha.

The development followed a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and a Thai delegation led by the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Yousef Hassan Khalawi, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the meeting, said Nigeria was interested in reviewing its relationship with Thailand to create more practical economic opportunities. He noted that the partnership should extend beyond established areas of trade and focus more on sectors capable of supporting investment and development.

“I believe that our relationship should go beyond transactions in crude oil, rice production and so on. So, there is a need for us to review our bilateral relationship at a strategic level,” Shettima said.

Khalawi said Thailand was seeking a new Thailand-Africa Initiative aimed at expanding economic and people-to-people relations with African countries. He identified Nigeria as an important partner in the proposed framework, with agriculture expected to be one of its major areas of cooperation, alongside sectors such as tourism and healthcare.

Shettima also pointed to Nigeria’s large market, youthful population and natural resources as factors that could attract greater Thai investment. He particularly highlighted opportunities in agriculture, information and communications technology, renewable energy and solid minerals, while encouraging Thai businesses to strengthen their presence in the Nigerian market.