BY Luka Binniyat

KADUNA—Indian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Mehesh Sachdeva has said that trade between Indian and Nigeria hit $16.4 billion in 2010, making his country the biggest trading partner with Nigeria.

The Ambassador spoke, yesterday, in Kaduna where he inspected Indian/Nigerian run (Thelish) Eye Centre. Sachdeva said: “India and Nigeria have enjoyed bilateral trades for over a century. At the moment, India is the largest trading partner with Nigeria. In 2010 alone, our bilateral trade balance was $16.4 billion.

“Nigeria has the positive trade balance in its favour with $11 billion. When Zain, an Indian firm took over Celtel, $4 billion was invested here. This was apart from many other Indian firms investing in energy.”
production and so on.

“Kaduna is a particularly favourite town for Indians if you recall when textiles, railways and manufacturing were flourishing well here.

“I am very happy to see that Dr. Agarwa’s (Thelish) Eye Institute, India, is bringing in its 60 years experience and as one of the world’s most respected ophthalmologists to partner with a Nigerian firm in Kaduna.”