President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Wednesday in Perth, Western Australian called for the strengthening of trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Australia.
Speaking at a reception hosted in his honour by Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia as he continued his pre-Commonwealth Summit Working Visit to Australia, President Jonathan reiterated that Nigeria, which is already Australia’s 2nd largest trading partner in Africa, will welcome an inflow of Australian mining expertise and technology for the rapid development of its solid minerals sector.
Reaffirming his Administration’s total commitment to achieving a positive, significant and enduring transformation of Nigeria, President Jonathan said that diversifying the national economy by improving agricultural productivity and developing the solid minerals sector were key priorities of his Administration.
“We are totally committed to transforming our country. We believe that our private sector has a key role to play in this regard, but we will strive to ensure that they have an enabling environment for their operations,” the President said.
President Jonathan thanked Ms. Gillard who had earlier led an Australian Government delegation to bilateral talks with him and Nigerian government officials for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage since their arrival in Perth.
“We will continue to be your friends and partners,” President Jonathan assured the Australian Prime Minister.
In her remarks at the reception, Ms. Gillard pledged that Australia will support the Jonathan Administration in every possible way as it works to implement its Agenda for National Transformation in Nigeria.
“A new chapter of goodwill and cooperation has opened between our two countries today,” she told the President.