Brazil’s President Rousseff visits Nigeria to discuss boosting trade
Dilma Rousseff has forged her own path.
SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff met with Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on Saturday to discuss boosting trade between the two countries, particularly in the energy sector.
According to Dow Jones Newswires, Nigeria is Brazil's main commercial partner in Africa, with bilateral trade jumping 500 percent from $1.5 billion in 2002 to $9 billion in 2012. Brazil's state-owned oil company Petrobras has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the coal, oil, natural gas and alternative energy sectors in Nigeria.
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Experts expect Brazil is attempting to expand energy ties with Africa's top oil producer as its economy continues to grow.
The relationship between Brazil and Nigeria had been initiated when Jonathan first visited Rio de Janeiro last year, reported Nigeria's PM News. During his June 2012 visit, Jonathan had called for increased support from Brazil in the areas of mechanized agriculture, power generation and other sectors in which Brazil is known for its expertise.
According to AllAfrica.com, a new Memorandum of Understanding will be signed by the two countries after the talks between the two leaders come to a close today.