TUNIS / Adel al-Thabeti / Anadolu

Tunisia and Nigeria on Friday stressed the importance of exploiting the opportunities offered by their membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area to enhance trade and elevate economic cooperation between the two countries.

This came during a phone call between Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ali Nafti and his Nigerian counterpart Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, according to a statement from the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Tunisian Foreign Ministry said the two ministers emphasized the importance of utilizing the two countries' membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area to develop trade exchanges, given what Tunisia and Nigeria possess in terms of capabilities that allow expanding areas of cooperation and economic integration.

The two sides also discussed ways to enhance coordination and consultation in regional and international forums, particularly regarding support for the two countries' candidates for senior positions in regional and international organizations, including the Secretary-General of the African Telecommunications Union.

The two ministers affirmed the two countries' keenness to expand and diversify bilateral cooperation to include value-added sectors, including information and communications technology, health, medical tourism, manufacturing, and petroleum industries.

They expressed satisfaction with the level of existing cooperation in academic and cultural fields.

According to the statement, Tunisia is expected to host the sixth session of the Tunisian-Nigerian Joint Commission during the last quarter of this year.

The Tunisian Foreign Ministry added that the commission will provide an opportunity to discuss prospects for developing bilateral cooperation, exchange views on regional issues, particularly joint African action and reform of the African Union system, in addition to files related to security and development in the continent.