The German state of Rhineland-Pfalz is looking to significantly boost its trade and investment ties with Nigeria, marked by the commencement of a week- long visit by a prominent business delegation to Lagos.
At a press briefing hosted by the German Consulate General in Lagos on Tuesday, Joe Weingarten, Head of Department for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viniculture of Rhineland- Pfalz, identified Nigeria as a "very interesting and important partner" for the German state.
Despite being one of Germany's smaller federal states with approximately four million inhabitants, Rhineland-Pfalz possesses a robust economy with a Gross Domestic Product around €185 billion. It already engages in trade exceeding €1.5 billion with Nigeria.
"Nigeria is one of our strongest partners in Africa," Weingarten stated, highlighting Nigeria's position as the state's fourth largest global trading partner. "We are here to increase that trade with Nigeria and with the whole region."
Weingarten further indicated that Germany's perspective on engaging with Nigeria has moved beyond viewing it solely as a consumer market.
"The times where you could look from Germany at a state like Nigeria only as a marketplace are gone," he remarked. "What we think about good international economic policy is cooperation. So production on both sides and trade for both sides. There must be positive results for both sides, for the Nigerian side and for the German Rhineland-Pfalz side. So, not only a marketplace but also the idea of maybe production."
The visiting delegation includes around ten German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from sectors such as wine production, construction, steel, machinery, and industrial solutions. Notably, Rhineland-Palatinate is the heartland of German wine production, accounting for nearly 70% of the country's wine output.
Weingarten explained that the delegation's agenda focuses on enabling direct business-to-business (B2B) interactions, providing a platform for SMEs from both nations to explore joint ventures, technology exchange, and enduring production collaborations.
He observed that German companies typically adopt a cautious approach before entering new markets, but once they commit, their presence is often long-term.
Weingarten pointed out that Nigeria's ongoing development in energy, logistics, housing, and food production presents significant opportunities, particularly in the renewable energy sector.
He clarified that renewable energy encompasses more than just wind and solar, requiring integrated technical and economic frameworks to ensure consistent energy supply.
The delegation is also exploring the possibility of reciprocal visits, which could include an invitation for a Nigerian minister to visit Rhineland- Palatinate in the coming months to strengthen official collaboration.
Daniel Krull, the German Consul General in Lagos, emphasized Germany's preference for a "bottom-up" strategy in economic diplomacy. "We strongly believe in a bottom-up approach, to build it from B2B and if there is a need for any state involvement to frame this relation, then it is topping up. But we don’t start from that, we start small."
Krull reassured Nigerian stakeholders that German firms entering the market are committed to establishing long-term relationships, stating, "You can trust these German companies come to stay and develop long-lasting relationships."
He also announced that several additional German business delegations are expected to visit Nigeria within the next six months. These visits will cover sectors including agri-food, information and communication technology, construction, infrastructure, and solar energy storage systems, with a particular focus on off-grid solutions.
Describing Nigeria as a vital partner for Germany in Africa, Krull connected the current delegation's visit to recent high-level governmental consultations held in Berlin.
For many of the participating German companies, this visit to Lagos represents their initial direct engagement with the Nigerian market.
Alfred Rochlus, Managing Partner of ASSYX GmbH & Co. KG, whose company produces specialized base plates for concrete block manufacturing, believes their technology can enhance quality and productivity in Nigeria's construction sector. "In a country where there is huge infrastructure demand, we expect there is a market for our product," Rochlus commented, indicating his interest in establishing local representation.
Thomas Wolff, Chairman of Wolfcraft GmbH, is evaluating the market potential for his company's precision tools within Nigeria's expanding construction and do-it-yourself (DIY) markets. "It’s the first time for me to come to this largest country in Africa to see if there is market potential," Wolff stated. "The challenge is finding the right partner and convincing them that our products can succeed."
While Rhineland-Palatinate has historically focused its African engagement on South Africa and East Africa, Weingarten identified Nigeria as a crucial gateway to West Africa.
"This is our first step to West Africa," he explained. "We thought very carefully about where to go, and Nigeria is very interesting for us."
Both sides expressed optimism that the ongoing meetings and sector-specific discussions would lay the groundwork for sustained economic cooperation.
"We hope this is not the last delegation from our state," Weingarten concluded, "but the beginning of a cooperation and friendship."
Melissa Enoch
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