The Nigeria- Colombia Bilateral Business Forum

1st of September 2025, Nigeria welcomed the Vice President of Colombia, H.E. Francia Marquez on a 3-day official visit that placed economic cooperation firmly at the centre of bilateral relations between both nations. The high-level engagements culminated in the Nigeria–Colombia Bilateral business Forum, co-chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, bringing together ministers, policymakers, investors, and private-sector leaders.

The forum was designed to unlock new channels of collaboration across priority sectors including agriculture, aviation, energy, trade facilitation, women’s empowerment, manufacturing, and the creative industries. Both governments framed the meetings as the beginning of a “new chapter” in Nigeria–Colombia relations, highlighting mutual opportunities that extend beyond Africa and Latin America.

Nigerian Indonesian Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s participation in the business forum reflected the growing role of Nigeria’s private sector in shaping global economic diplomacy. Mr. Balogun noted that such forums are critical for building trust and creating pathways for businesses to explore new markets.

The forum also addressed practical steps to deepen Nigeria–Colombia cooperation, including the possibility of direct air links between the two nations. Such connections, analysts say, would reduce travel time, boost tourism, and lower barriers for perishable goods trade. Other discussions centred on boosting bilateral trade volumes, enhancing women’s participation in business, and setting up joint working groups to implement agreements. Areas of focus included the G-G, G-B & B2B matchmaking session.

At NICCI, we see events like the Nigeria–Colombia Forum as part of a wider ecosystem of economic engagement,” Mr. Balogun stated “Our objective is to connect Nigerian businesses to the world, whether in Latin America, Southeast Asia, or beyond.

This is why we are preparing for the upcoming Nigerian Indonesian Investment and Trade Forum (NIITF) in October 2025 . This forum, has become a flagship platform for fostering trade and investment opportunities between Nigeria and Indonesia.

As Nigeria broadens its diplomatic and commercial networks, forums like the upcoming NIITF signal a new era of private-sector-driven economic diplomacy. For businesses, they offer more than just speeches and communiqués; they create tangible opportunities for partnerships, market access, and long-term investment.