Diplomats and international partners have called for stronger trade and investment relations with Nigeria, urging countries to move beyond conventional import and export transactions towards long-term partnerships in agriculture, food processing and tourism.

They made the call at the ninth edition of the CMD Food Tour, held in Abuja on Saturday, under the theme, “Diplomacy on a Plate, From Farm to Foreign Market.”

The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Mahdavi Raja, said both countries had considerable opportunities to expand agricultural trade through product exchanges and investments in their respective markets.

Raja identified dates and other agricultural products as potential areas of cooperation, noting that introducing Iranian products to Nigerian consumers and businesses could strengthen bilateral trade.

He, however, stressed that cooperation should extend beyond the exchange of goods to include joint ventures and long-term investments.

He said sustainable economic relations required deliberate efforts to establish partnerships rather than rely on occasional commercial transactions.

Similarly, the Ambassador of Tunisia to Nigeria, Mohsen Antit, identified olive oil, harissa, seafood and couscous as some of his country's products with potential to attract more Nigerian consumers.

Antit, who was represented by the Deputy Head of Mission, Wassim Elghawthi, described olive oil as an important part of Tunisia's cultural identity, noting that the country's production standards and quality were recognised internationally.

He expressed hope that future editions of the food tour would increase awareness and consumption of Tunisian products in Nigeria.

The Tunisian envoy also called for stronger food trade among African countries, saying regional exchanges would promote cultural understanding and strengthen economic cooperation.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of CMD Tourism and Trade Enterprises Limited, Cécile Mambo, said the initiative was designed to use food as a platform for expanding trade, investment and tourism opportunities among participating countries.

She explained that food represented more than culinary traditions, as it also created opportunities for cultural exchange, business partnerships and tourism development.

Mambo said the next phase of the initiative would focus on encouraging manufacturing investments in Nigeria and other participating countries, while increasing exports and imports through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

She cited the processing of yam into flour as an example of how investments in local agricultural value chains could create employment and expand export opportunities.

According to her, cultivating, processing and packaging agricultural products locally before exporting them would generate jobs and attract further investment into the country.

She, however, noted that ensuring Nigerian products met export quality requirements remained the responsibility of relevant regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Also speaking, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Denvik Travels, Ifeanyi Vivian Okonkwo, said food tourism offered an opportunity for people to experience the cultures of other countries before travelling to those destinations.

She explained that culinary exhibitions could stimulate international tourism by introducing visitors to the cuisines and traditions of participating countries.

Okonkwo said the event allowed Nigerians to sample dishes from countries including Iran, Cameroon and Tunisia, potentially encouraging greater interest in visiting those destinations.

The ninth edition of the CMD Food Tour brought together diplomatic missions and other stakeholders to showcase national cuisines, cultural traditions and opportunities for agricultural trade and tourism.

Ghana was featured as the Country of the Day at the event.