Nigeria, U.S. Launch Commercial Working Groups To Drive Trade, Investment
The United States and Nigeria on Tuesday activated a major step in their bilateral economic partnership with the launch of working group meetings under the US–Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership (CIP).
Senior government officials and private sector leaders from both nations convened in Abuja to kick off the initiative, aimed at strengthening commercial cooperation and unlocking new trade and investment opportunities.
The CIP, created through a five-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2024 by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Nigeria’s former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, seeks to deepen bilateral ties by addressing sector-specific challenges and fostering job creation across both economies.
The high-level dialogue was led by four senior officials including U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills; Julie LeBlanc, Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Department of Commerce; Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; and Ambassador Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary of the same ministry.
Speaking at the launch, Ambassador Mills underscored the strategic importance of the initiative stating that it will strengthen bilateral ties between both countries.
“The CIP is one of the top priorities of my tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria. This launch demonstrates our shared resolve to expand commercial ties, accelerate growth, and create tangible opportunities for citizens in both countries,” Mills said.
At the core of the inaugural meetings were three newly formed working groups focused on agriculture, the digital economy, and infrastructure—sectors identified as vital to driving long-term prosperity.
Each group comprises business representatives from both countries who began by selecting leadership and outlining key non-tariff barriers hindering trade and investment.
Their mission is to propose actionable policy recommendations to unlock business potential and deepen private sector engagement.
Speaking on behalf of the U.S. Commerce Department, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Middle East and Africa, Thomas Bruns, emphasized the partnership’s economic promise.
“The CIP reflects our joint commitment to innovation and inclusive growth,” he said.
“By collaborating in sectors that power both our economies—agriculture, digital technology, and infrastructure—we are laying a foundation for sustainable, long-term development,” he added.
The two governments agreed to conduct biannual progress reviews and to continually explore new areas for cooperation under the CIP framework. The next formal review meeting is scheduled for the ending of 2025.
Nigeria, U.S. Launch Commercial Working Groups To Drive Trade, Investment is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
