GERMANY, NIGERIA TRADE VOLUMES HIT €3 BILLION. (PHOTO).

 Germany, Nigeria trade volumes hit €3 billion

Germany-Nigeria trade volume is in the region of €3 billion, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther, said.

The 30% increase, Ambassador Gunther said, was attributed to Nigeria’s economic recovery.

The envoy spoke with reporters ahead of the joint Nigerian-German binational commission scheduled for Berlin, in German.

Gunther noted that Nigeria remains “Germany’s second biggest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa with a total trade volume of 3 billion Euros. Trade volumes have increased this year by 30 % due to Nigeria’s economic recovery.”

Besides, she said more than 90 German companies are active in Nigeria, “indirectly creating about 17.000 jobs in Nigeria.”

She also revealed that more investments were coming, especially in the energy and the pharmaceutical sector.

On the energy sector, the envoy revealed that the Presidential Power initiative was in the second phase.

In the area of Visa and Migration, the envoy said no fewer than 7,600 visas were issued to students and short term stay.

She also disclosed that plans were already in place to increase the number.

Gunther, however, stressed the need for legal migration.

She said: “All the common goals and projects would not work if they were not supported by travels on all levels between our two countries, plus legal migration.

”Last year alone, the German Embassy here in Abuja and the German Consulate General in Lagos granted around 1400 long-term visas for purposes such as study in Germany, family reunion and employment as well as around 6200 visas for short-term stays such as business and tourism.

The envoy said: “This year, we are well on track to raise those numbers.

“The German missions remain committed to furthering the bilateral relations by granting visas to properly documented applications.”

In the area of military cooperation, she said Germany will continue to stand by Nigeria.