Nigeria and South Africa have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding economic cooperation, concluding the 2025 Outward Selling Trade Mission to Nigeria with renewed focus on partnerships, investment confidence, and regulatory reforms, The Guardian reports.
The programme, jointly organised by the South African Consulate General in Lagos and South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), featured high-level engagements between businesses and investors from both countries.
Speaking at the event, Professor Bobby J. Moroe, Acting High Commissioner and Consul General of South Africa in Nigeria, stressed the importance of leveraging the economic strength of both nations to boost intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“This mission is about using the strength of our economies to deepen Africa’s role in global trade. The partnerships built here can open opportunities for jobs, infrastructure, and industrial growth,” Moroe said.
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A major highlight was the business matchmaking sessions facilitated by McKire Africa, which linked South African firms in manufacturing, mining, engineering, agriculture, and agro-processing with Nigerian partners.
Founder Margaret Chichi Nkire noted that these sessions laid the groundwork for distributorships, joint ventures, and long-term cooperation.
The forum also addressed Nigeria’s regulatory landscape. Barrister David Hachilam Nkire of Fola Sowemimo & Co. (Sterling Partners) outlined reforms designed to improve ease of doing business and attract foreign investors.
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Similarly, Sonny Iroche, CEO of GEN AI Learning Concepts Limited, highlighted how artificial intelligence tools could enhance cross-border trade by authenticating business partners and boosting efficiency.
Dr. Ije Jidenma, Chairman of the Nigeria–South Africa Chamber of Commerce, called for sustained collaboration between government and the private sector, noting that both countries play pivotal roles in Africa’s economic integration.
The mission closed with a joint commitment to strengthen structured platforms for trade, investment, and business cooperation.
Image Credit: Prime Business Africa
