By Busayo Onijala
The German Consulate General in Lagos hosted a reception for a business delegation from Rheinland-Palatinate on Tuesday night to deepen trade relations with Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rhineland-Palatinate or Rhineland-Pfalz, one of Germany’s 16 federal states, boasts a GDP of €185 billion.
With a strong industrial base and a globally recognised wine sector, the state also combines innovation, manufacturing excellence and agricultural tradition.
The delegation included representatives from the State Ministry of Economy, Transport, Agriculture and Viniculture, and executives from selected companies from different sectors.
Daniel Krull, Consul General of Germany in Lagos, said German business in Lagos was entering 2026 with optimism, noting that several investment initiatives are already in the pipeline.
Krull described small and medium-sized enterprises as the backbone of German industry, saying many “hidden champions” serving over 130 countries were part of the visiting delegation.
According to Krull, his country values a bottom-up approach to trade relations.
“Business-to-business engagement is the foundation of our economic relations, with government frameworks serving only as support where necessary.
“Engagement at the level of German federal states such as Rheinland-Pfalz highlights the decentralised strength of the German economy and opens additional pathways for cooperation beyond initiatives at national-level.
“The delegation aims to lay the groundwork for durable economic partnerships that benefit both regions,” Krull said.
He added that German companies were committed to building lasting relationships in Nigeria, adding that future delegations will cover agrifood, ICT, solar storage, construction and infrastructure sectors.
Dr Joe Weingarten, Head, Department Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viniculture of Rhineland-Palatinate ranked Nigeria fourth among its African trade partners after Egypt, Algeria and South Africa.
According to him, with a population of about four million and a GDP of 185 billion euros, trade between the state and Nigeria exceeded 1.5 billion euros.
He emphasised Nigeria’s growing population as a major contributor to it being a trade partnership destination for his state.
“Eight companies from sectors including wine, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, construction and machinery are in Lagos to explore partnerships and expand regional trade,” he said.
He noted that nearly 70 per cent of German wine was produced in Rheinland-Pfalz and expressed optimism about prospects in Nigeria’s growing consumer market.
The delegation, he said, would hold meetings with chambers of commerce and private firms, describing the visit as a first step toward long-term cooperation in West Africa.
Weingarten further said the state’s focus was economic collaboration, adding that broader political cooperation could evolve over time.
He highlighted Rheinland-Pfalz’s strengths in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, automotive manufacturing and renewable energy, noting that about 60 per cent of the state’s electricity is generated from renewables.
The delegation head said that Germany recognised Nigeria not just as a marketplace, but as a production and trade partner, promoting mutual economic benefits for both countries. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa
