•Taiwan seeks collaboration with Nigeria
•Commends development of digital infrastructure in Nigeria
Mr. Andy Liu, the Representative and Head of Mission of the Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria, has announced Taiwan's readiness to strengthen its collaboration with Nigeria in pursuit of the country's development objectives.
During a press conference held in Lagos on Sunday, Liu conveyed his nation's eagerness to support Nigeria in diversifying its economy beyond the oil sector, thereby accelerating economic growth.
While acknowledging the strides made by both countries in establishing democratic systems, the diplomat underscored that Nigeria could benefit significantly from Taiwan's investments in education, information technology, and other critical sectors.
Liu highlighted the fact that Taiwan and Nigeria had surmounted substantial challenges and achieved notable successes, which could serve as valuable benchmarks for other nations. He emphasized that rather than wanting other nations to replicate their errors, Taiwan aims to share its experiences so that each country can assess whether these models are suitable for their unique conditions, resources, environment, and economic development plans.
The diplomat stressed the importance of adopting a practical and cautious approach to Nigeria's development, emphasizing that Taiwan's assistance relies not only on the goodwill of the Nigerian government but also on its own preparedness.
Liu expressed optimism that the Nigerian government would initiate discussions on areas of mutual interest with Taiwan, emphasizing the necessity of aligning goals and objectives for a fruitful collaboration.
The diplomat said he admired how Nigerian people had embraced digital communication, evident in their increased usage of mobile phones, internet connectivity, and online platforms like Jumia and Konga.
According to him, the rise of e-commerce and digital services showcases the power and potential of utilising smartphones and other mobile devices for business and communication purposes.
Liu encouraged Nigeria to continue strengthening its digital infrastructure and seize the opportunities presented by the digital economy.
He said that leveraging Taiwan’s expertise in this area could benefit not only Nigeria ,but also other African countries.
The diplomat said collaborations with Taiwan could contribute positively to the economies of African nations.
“Our embassy in the Kingdom of Eswatini has been there for over 55 years. We have built a huge mission outside of the embassy.
“We have built a Technical Assistance Mission, medical mission, agriculture mission, vocational training and others.
“So, the Kingdom of Eswatini benefited from Taiwan’s assistance for almost 30 to 40 years. So, that kingdom is a good window of Taiwan; how Taiwan can help by providing our development model" he said.
Opmerkingen