The German state of Rhineland-Pfalz has signalled its intention to significantly deepen trade and investment relations with Nigeria, as a high-level business delegation commenced a week-long visit to Lagos.
Speaking during a press conference at the German Consulate General Lagos on Tuesday, the Head of Department for Foreign Trade at Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viniculture of Rhineland-Pfalz, Joe Weingarten, described Nigeria as a “very interesting and important partner” for the German state.
With a population of about four million people, Rhineland-Pfalz- also known as Rhineland-Palatinate in English – is one of Germany’s smaller federal states. However, Weingarten emphasised that it boasts a strong economy with a Gross Domestic Product of approximately €185 billion and more than €1.5 billion in trade with Nigeria.
“Nigeria is one of our strongest partners in Africa,” he said, noting that the country ranks fourth among the state’s global trading partners. “We are here to increase that trade with Nigeria and with the whole region.”
Weingarten stressed that Germany’s approach to Nigeria has evolved beyond viewing the country solely as a marketplace.
“The times where you could look from Germany at a state like Nigeria only as a marketplace are gone,” he stated. “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 delegation, comprising about ten German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), represents sectors including wine production, construction, steel, machinery and industrial solutions. Nearly 70 per cent of German wine is produced in Rhineland-Palatinate, making viticulture a significant economic pillar of the state.
According to Weingarten, the visit is focused on facilitating direct business-to-business (B2B) engagements, enabling SMEs from both countries to explore joint ventures, technology transfer and long-term production partnerships.
“German companies take their time before entering new markets,” he noted. “But once they decide to move into a foreign market, they stay for a very long time.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing modernisation efforts in energy, logistics, housing and food production, Weingarten identified renewable energy systems as a critical area for cooperation.
He explained that renewable energy development goes beyond wind and solar generation, requiring integrated technical and economic systems that ensure stable, year-round supply.
The delegation is also discussing potential reciprocal visits, including the possibility of inviting a Nigerian minister to Rhineland-Palatinate in the coming months to strengthen institutional collaboration.
The German Consul General in Lagos, Daniel Krull, underscored Germany’s “bottom-up” approach to economic diplomacy saying, “We strongly believe in bottomup 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 assured Nigerian stakeholders that German companies entering the market are committed to long-term engagement. “You can trust these German companies come to stay and develop long-lasting relationships,” he added.
He also revealed that several additional German business delegations are scheduled to visit Nigeria within the next six months, covering sectors such as agri-food, information and communication technology, construction, infrastructure and solar energy storage systems — particularly for off-grid solutions.
Describing Nigeria as one of Germany’s most important partners on the African continent, Krull linked the delegation’s visit to broader diplomatic engagements, including recent bi-national governmental consultations in Berlin.
For many participating firms, the Lagos visit marks their first direct engagement with the Nigerian market.
Alfred Rochlus, Managing Partner of ASSYX GmbH & Co. KG, said his company manufactures specialised base plates used in concrete block production — a technology aimed at improving quality and productivity in infrastructure development.
“In a country where there is huge infrastructure demand, we expect there is a market for our product,” Rochlus said, adding that he is exploring the possibility of establishing local representation in Nigeria.
Similarly, Thomas Wolff, Chairman of Wolfcraft GmbH, is assessing opportunities for his company’s precision tools in Nigeria’s growing construction and DIY segments.
“It’s the first time for me to come to this largest country in Africa to see if there is market potential,” Wolff said. “The challenge is finding the right partner and convincing them that our products can succeed.”
While Rhineland-Palatinate has previously concentrated its African engagement in South Africa and East Africa, Weingarten described Nigeria as its strategic entry point into 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.”
As meetings and sector-specific discussions continue throughout the week, both sides expressed optimism that the visit would mark the beginning of sustained 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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