Niger’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim Yacoubou described the talks the President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou held with HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani as “fruitful and positive” and covered all issues of mutual concern on the bilateral and international levels.
Addressing a press conference held yesterday on the sidelines of the 16th Doha Forum, Niger’s foreign minister said President Issoufou met during his current visit to Qatar with a number of Qatari officials and others in charge of non-governmental organisations and associations as well as other parties participating in the development process in Niger.
He explained that President Issoufou’s talks with Qatari officials focused on three issues, foremost of which was the encouragement of those working in the economic field in Qatar to invest in Niger in order to push the wheel of development there.
Minister Yacoubou also noted that President Issoufou briefed the Qatari officials in charge of the economic sector about the promising investment opportunities in Niger, privileges, economic frameworks, facilities, security system and the guarantees and support which Niger provides to all those interested in investment in the country, including the right to ownership.
He said the second issue about which the president of Niger talked about with Qatari officials was security in Niger which is located in a restive and tense area and because its neighbour Libya, which is going through tensions in the aftermath of the Arab and Mali from which terrorism, is posing a big threat in addition to Nigeria where Boko Haram is terrorising people.
“All those threats confirm Niger’s need and care for the support of its security with the help of its friends and brothers to become an oasis of peace despite the security circumstances surrounding it,” Yaqoubou said.
He added that the third issue which President Issoufou raised with the Qatari officials was the position of Qatar and Niger and their vision towards a number of international issues, noting in this regard that the talks covered the situation in Libya. He said President Issoufou praised the role being played by the Qatar to bring about peace in Libya, pointing out that Niger is following with concern the situation in that country and the initiatives taken to bring peace in it because Libya’s stability will have a positive effect on Niger.