Both Countries Reiterate the Need to Ratify Pending Trade Agreement as Prelude for the Establishment of a Joint Commission.
Direct Flights between Both Countries in the Offing Through Planned Implementation of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA).
Political Consultations aimed at improving relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the State of Israel,Thursday,ended in Tel Aviv, Israel, with an agreement to advance several partnerships and strengthen co-operation in different socio-economic sectors in both countries.
According to a release by the Embassy of Nigeria in Tel Aviv monitored in Abuja,Friday, the meeting,which was held between the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Amb. Gabriel Tanimu Aduda and his Israeli counterpart,Amb.Alon Ushpiz,Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel,deliberated extensively on several wide-ranging issues like Bilateral Air Service Agreement,Direct Flights between the two countries,Trade,Agro-tech,ICT,Cyber Security as well as Tourism, National and Regional Terrorism,among others. The meeting agreed to further partnership agenda on those issues and to strengthen co- operation on all areas of mutual interests for the both countries.
Part of the release says the meeting agreed on:
“co-operation in air transportation through the implementation of a Bilateral Air Service Agreement, wherein the aviation sectors are set to commence direct flights between Nigeria and Israel with Air Peace designated to ply the route on the Nigerian side. This will enhance people-to-people exchange, economic activities and tourism.
” Others are collaborations in agro-tech, where both parties agreed to work alongside relevant Agencies of government to evolve an engagement that will provide support from seedlings to prevention of post-harvest losses.
” Others are expansion of the IFAIR ICT entrepreneurship programme, which is currently focused on hardware development to include software development and setting up another office in Lagos. The meeting further discussed regional and national security challenges, as well as international development projects, mainly the MASHAV programme which has recorded great successes in various sectors, including human capacity building, especially technology, innovation and ICT.
” Other areas of mutual interests are cyber security, de-radicalization of terrorists and insurgents, curbing terrorism financing, health and water management. In addition to the above, both countries discussed reciprocal support on bilateral and multilateral issues and fora especially in candidatures and resolutions.
” Deliberations on consular issues centred on regularisation on status for credible Nigerians as well as consideration for dependent wards of foreign service officers during their tours of duty. The two nations reiterated the need for ratification of pending Trade Agreement that will culminate in the establishment of Nigeria- Israel Joint Commission”,the release reveals.
The meeting was in all ramifications a successful one. It is the the highest level of such meetings between the two countries since 2015.
