Thailand is eying Nigeria as a growing market for rice export and for investment cooperation in energy.

Export Promotion Department Deputy Director General Wuthichai Duangrat said Thailand wants to improve trade relations with Nigeria in order to tap in on the country's vast energy sources such as oil and natural gas. Thailand is interested in investing in natural gas exploration and infrastructure construction in Nigeria.

Currently, Nigeria is Thailand's number one rice importer in Africa, importing 539,000 tons per year. Demand for Thai rice and other food products is expected to grow.

Nigeria consumes as much as five million tons of rice per year. Thailand also hopes Nigeria will be a platform for it to expand its rice export to other countries.

From January to April, Thailand exported 363.84 million dollars' worth of products to Nigeria, an increase of 67.02 percent from the previous year. Key products include rice, plastic, rubber, television sets and parts and automobiles and parts.

Source: TANN