ABUJA – In a major move to deepen economic ties, Nigeria and the United States have officially launched the Commercial and Investment Partnership (CIP) Working Group Forum, aimed at accelerating bilateral trade, fostering private sector collaboration, and unlocking new investment opportunities across critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The forum was inaugurated on Wednesday, June 26, 2025, in Abuja, bringing together high-level government officials, business leaders, development financiers, and industry regulators from both nations.
Speaking during the launch, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, described the initiative as a “strategic framework” designed to catalyse sustainable investment, improve regulatory clarity, and support industrial expansion in key areas such as infrastructure, energy, digital economy, agriculture, and manufacturing.
“This working group provides a platform for structured dialogue between Nigerian and U.S. stakeholders. It will enable us to address market access issues, remove investment bottlenecks, and build long-term commercial partnerships rooted in mutual benefit,” she said.
Representing the U.S. delegation, the Assistant Secretary for Global Markets, Arun Venkataraman, reiterated America’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic transformation and inclusive growth. He emphasized that the CIP forum would serve as a vehicle to mobilize American capital, technology, and expertise into Nigeria’s priority sectors.
“The United States recognizes Nigeria’s critical role as Africa’s largest economy and a key player in global supply chains. This partnership will help scale up U.S. investment and deepen business-to-business engagements,” Venkataraman stated.
During the forum, breakout sessions were held on trade policy harmonization, access to finance, SME development, digital infrastructure, and green investment. Both sides agreed to develop a joint roadmap and set timelines for implementing actionable policy recommendations.
The CIP Working Group will meet biannually and submit progress reports to the respective governments. It also aligns with broader efforts under the U.S.-Africa Strategic Partnership and supports Nigeria’s post-COVID economic recovery and industrialisation agenda.
Analysts have hailed the launch as a timely intervention that could unlock billions of dollars in investment flows while boosting investor confidence and private sector participation in Nigeria’s growth story.
The next session of the CIP Forum is expected to take place in Washington D.C. later in the year, with expanded participation from regional economic blocs and multilateral agencies.
