The Commerce Improvement Bureau of China’s Ministry of Commerce (TDB) has been confirmed as a Strategic Nation Associate (China) for the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing and Commerce (West Africa IMT) Summit and Exhibition 2026.
This, in line with organisers, reinforces a rising shift in Nigeria-China financial relations from increasing commerce volumes to anchoring industrial manufacturing and long-term funding.
China’s affirmation comes at a pivotal second. Bilateral commerce between Nigeria and China exceeded $22.3 billion within the first ten months of 2025 – a 30 per cent year-on-year improve, underscoring deepening industrial ties and Beijing’s increasing footprint throughout Nigerian infrastructure, manufacturing and export platforms.
In opposition to this backdrop, the summit, themed ‘Accelerating West Africa’s Sustainable Industrial Revolution for Financial Prosperity,’ will happen from 3-5 March 2026 on the Landmark Centre, Lagos.
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As Nigeria marks 55 years of diplomatic and financial relations with China, policymakers on either side have more and more emphasised the necessity to transfer past commerce enlargement towards industrial capability constructing, native manufacturing and value-added manufacturing. Nigerian financial leaders have known as for Chinese language producers to anchor manufacturing services inside home industrial zones, enabling expertise switch, strengthening provide chains and accelerating job creation.
China’s function as a Strategic Nation Associate introduces an vital diplomatic and industrial dimension to this essential summit.
In an announcement, the organisers defined that anticipated contributors embody Minister of State for Business, Sen. John Enoh; trade ministers from Benin, Senegal and Ghana; reflecting the summit’s positioning as a high-level platform for aligning commerce, finance and industrial coverage.