Serbia To Open Consulate In Kano

The Serbian ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Rondic Rifat, said on Tuesday in Abuja that his country is to open an honorary consulate in Kano next month.

Rifat who spoke with newsmen, said opening of the consulate would further promote diplomatic ties between Serbia and Nigeria.

He said that the new consulate would cover the 19 Northern states, announcing that Nigeria’s embassy in Belgrade would soon be reopened.

The embassy was shut alongside other missions in 2003.

“Serbia and Nigeria have very cordial relations, we want to further boost our bilateral ties,? especially in the areas of politics, economy, culture and education.

“Also Serbia wants Nigeria’s experience in peace keeping operation in order to equip our military forces to participate in global peace keeping.’’

Rifat said that such experience-sharing would pave the way for deeper bilateral relations in defence and security.

He also said that Serbia was partnering Nigeria in agriculture, adding “we import agricultural products like groundnut, corn, wheat, palm oil and coconut, while we export machineries like tractors, cultivators; we also import seedlings of various crops from Nigeria.”

The envoy disclosed that 40 Nigerian businessmen took part in last month’s Food and Drink Fair, held in Belgrade.

?He noted that the event provided investors the opportunity to network, which he said, was necessary in view of the low volume of trade between both nations.

Nigeria and Serbia established diplomatic ties since in 1960.

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