The Trade Development Bureau of China’s Ministry of Commerce has been confirmed as a Strategic Country Partner for the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing and Trade (West Africa IMT) Summit and Exhibition 2026, organisers said.
The West Africa IMT Summit and Exhibition is scheduled from March 3 to March 5, 2026, at the Landmark Centre in Lagos.
The event brings together regional and international industry stakeholders to discuss industrialisation, manufacturing and trade strategies, with a focus on advancing sustainable economic growth in West Africa.
China and Nigeria have longstanding diplomatic and economic relations, and both countries have engaged in multiple bilateral initiatives over several decades.
Trade volumes between the two countries have continued to expand, with Nigerian-China trade exceeding an estimated $22.3 billion in the first ten months of 2025.
Organisers said China’s Trade Development Bureau will serve as the Strategic Country Partner representing China at the summit and exhibition. The partnership reflects a broader engagement between Chinese institutions and West African economic stakeholders.
The West Africa IMT Summit is themed “Accelerating West Africa’s Sustainable Industrial Revolution for Economic Prosperity” and is endorsed by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
The summit is designed to align trade, finance and industrial policies and to introduce industrial capacity-building discussions into regional economic planning.
Expected participants include Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. John Enoh, and industry ministers from Benin, Senegal and Ghana.
The summit will feature leadership panels, country investment spotlights, investor roundtables and technical sessions.
These sessions aim to address implementation priorities such as reliable power, logistics constraints and blended finance mechanisms.
China’s appointment as Strategic Country Partner is intended to bring a diplomatic and commercial dimension to the summit, connecting Nigerian economic policymakers with Chinese trade and industrial development representatives.
The West Africa IMT Summit and Exhibition is part of broader efforts to promote industrialisation and trade cooperation in the region, serving as a platform for businesses, governments and financial institutions to explore partnerships and investment opportunities.
China’s role as Strategic Country Partner underscores the ongoing economic relationship and cooperation between Nigeria and China.
The partnership may influence discussions around technology transfer, industrial capacity building and value-added manufacturing during the summit.
The inclusion of multiple West African ministers and development stakeholders also highlights the regional significance of the event as a forum for aligning industrial and trade policies across national borders.
