A high-level Pakistani delegation is actively seeking to enhance bilateral trade and dismantle market access barriers with Nigeria through a series of pivotal meetings held alongside the Beauty West Africa 2025 trade exhibition.
Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, led discussions with senior Nigerian officials aimed at improving logistical and financial facilitation for businesses operating between the two nations.
The diplomatic push coincides with the inauguration of the Pakistan Pavilion at the major continental trade fair. Organized by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) under the Ministry of Commerce, the pavilion features 19 prominent Pakistani enterprises presenting a wide array of beauty and personal care products.
According to an official statement, Mr. Khan engaged in crucial conversations with Ms. Aisha Rimi, Executive Director of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC); Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC); and Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI).
The growing interest of Pakistan’s private sector in tapping into Africa’s expanding consumer markets was underscored by the participation of several independent Pakistani firms at the expo, in addition to the TDAP-supported exhibitors.
To foster direct commercial linkages, a networking dinner was held, bringing together Pakistani exhibitors with officials from Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and banking representatives to address regulatory and financial hurdles.
This engagement at Beauty West Africa 2025 reflects a broader strategy by Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce to promote the country’s exports and strengthen its economic footprint in emerging African markets, particularly in high-growth sectors.