At a joint briefing after a meeting with his UK counterpart, Mr Simon Fraser, Uhoimoibhi said that the volume of trade could increase as ways to boost economic relations between the two countries were being worked out.
He said the meeting focused mainly on issues of prosperity, development, security, migration and international relations
Reports say that the 35 per cent increase represents a rise from the 6.3 billion dollars generated in 2010 to the 8.5 billion dollars in 2011.
The trade was mainly in oil and gas, agriculture and in the service sector.
Uhoimoibhi said Nigeria and UK shared common interests in deepening democracy, good governance and global peace-keeping.
``On security, we referred to the growing menace of insecurity not only in Nigeria, but also in the sub-region,’’ he said, adding that the UK commended Nigeria’s lead role in peace-keeping and pledged continuous support. .
He said both nations had agreed to continue to work closely on migration issues.
``We want to ensure that migration issues are done in the best legal manner through enhanced cooperation to promote the mutual benefits of legal migration and to counter irregular migration, including through a without-consent prisoner transfer agreement.’’
Fraser said both nations had agreed on a wide range of issues aimed at structuring and promoting bilateral relations.
He said the Petroleum Industry Bill represented an important opportunity to restructure the oil sector in a bid to ensure continued long-term investment and economic growth.
Fraser noted the importance of migration in the bilateral relations between the two countries, adding that the issue of visa and ways to improve on the process were also discussed at the meeting.
Reports have it that the meeting was held against the backdrop of the Nigeria-UK strategic partnership established in July 2011 when Prime Minister David Cameron visited Lagos.
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