Shettima arrives India for BRICS summit
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in New Delhi, India, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit.
Shettima is leading a high-level Nigerian delegation to the summit as Nigeria seeks to deepen bilateral relations, expand trade and investment opportunities and strengthen cooperation with BRICS member and partner countries.
The summit, which is being held under the theme, “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, brings together leaders of member and partner countries as well as invited international organisations.
The Nigerian delegation includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani; and Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, among others.
Ahead of the summit, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria would use the platform to explore new partnerships and opportunities in agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, trade and the digital economy.
She said Nigeria was also interested in learning from India’s experience in using technology and artificial intelligence to create opportunities for its large youth population.
“India is firm in its expertise in agriculture and, of course, even in the digital economy,” the minister said, adding that Nigeria was seeking to leverage India’s strength in engaging its young population.
Oduwole said the Federal Government was also working to deepen Nigeria’s trade relationship with India, which she said had previously stood at about $14 billion.
