The Nigeria-Slovenia Chamber of Commerce has moved to strengthen economic relations between both countries by promoting trade and investment opportunities.
The chamber said the partnership would leverage each country’s comparative advantages to increase the visibility of their products and services in European and West African markets.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chamber made the call at its 2026 Nigeria-Slovenia Investment Conference in Lagos on Friday.
The event had the theme: “Building Bridges of Prosperity: Advancing Nigeria-Slovenia Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation”.
The conference sought to deepen existing relations and explore emerging areas of cooperation.
It also connected Nigerian and Slovenian businesses to explore opportunities for growth in both countries.
Participants were introduced to business financing opportunities in Slovenia that Nigerian companies could leverage to expand into the Slovenian and wider European markets.
Slovenian businesses, in turn, were encouraged to invest in Nigeria’s vast natural resources, tourism, creative industries, oil and gas, agribusiness, maritime, education, energy, telecommunications, culture and entertainment sectors.
The chamber urged Nigerian businesses to adopt Slovenia’s advanced technologies to improve manufacturing capacity.
Speaking at the event, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Slovenia, Mr Abbas Braimah, said that the mission had developed a 12-month plan to strengthen business relations between both countries.
Braimah, represented by the chamber’s Director-General, Mr Uche Udungwor, described trade promotion as an important role of the chamber.
He urged Nigerian businesses to leverage bilateral relations and adopt Slovenian technologies to improve agro-processing.
The ambassador expressed concern over post-harvest losses in Nigeria and called for knowledge and technology transfer to preserve produce, add value and improve the country’s position in global markets.
He encouraged businesses to become export-oriented and improve the quality of Nigerian products and services to compete internationally.
“Tap the technical expertise of Slovenians, transfer and domesticate such knowledge to process and preserve the nation’s agricultural produce,” he said.
Braimah also urged businesses to use the chamber to explore opportunities and ensure their products met international standards.
He said Slovenia’s strategic location could help Nigerian businesses access European markets.
He added that two Nigerian trade delegations would visit Slovenia in 2027 to promote Nigerian businesses and products in Europe.
According to him, the chamber’s 12-month investment roadmap would support businesses and strengthen bilateral trade.
In his keynote address, Udungwor, who is also President of the chamber’s council, said that Nigeria was open to meaningful business partnerships.
He said the chamber planned to deepen business matchmaking, trade delegations, investment facilitation, market-entry support and institutional partnerships.
“We encourage Nigerian businesses to look toward Slovenia as a valuable partner in advanced manufacturing, technology, healthcare, renewable energy, logistics, education and access to European market networks,” he said.
Udungwor said cultural exchanges and people-to-people relations were also important for sustainable economic cooperation.
He said that the Slovenian business community viewed Nigeria not merely as an export destination but as a strategic partner for industrial cooperation, investment, innovation and long-term market expansion.
He said that the chamber was ready to work with credible businesses, government institutions, investment agencies and development partners to turn opportunities into commercially viable ventures.
Dr Jude Eluma, a former chairman of the Imo/Abia Branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria said the conference was timely, as Nigerians were seeking alternative income sources to meet financial obligations.
Eluma commended the chamber for presenting opportunities for personal and national development and urged it to organise regular investment sessions across the country.
The conference was sponsored by Spirit Slovenia, a Slovenian agency promoting business partnerships with other countries. (NAN)
