Niamey: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty headed to Niger with a 30-strong business delegation to attend the inauguration of the first Egypt-Niger Business Forum in Niamey, the capital, during the third leg of his West Africa tour aimed at cementing political and economic relations.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Bakary Yaou Sangare, Niger's minister of foreign affairs, and Abdallah Sido, minister of trade and industry, attended the forum's inauguration, a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Representatives of major Egyptian companies operating in various fields, led by Sherif El-Gabaly, chairman of the African Cooperation Committee at the Egyptian Federation of Industries, were also present. The forum hosted interactive meetings between representatives of companies from both sides, providing opportunities to explore joint projects in various sectors, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, mining, manufacturing, and new and renewable energy.
In his opening speech, FM Abdelatty praised the historic relations between Egypt and Niger, which have recently witnessed significant momentum at all levels. He emphasized that these growing relations require parallel efforts in investment, trade exchange, and economic integration. Abdelatty noted that holding this joint forum with the participation of a large Egyptian business delegation marks a significant milestone for a new phase of economic cooperation between the two countries.
Abdelatty highlighted the expertise and achievements of Egyptian companies in infrastructure, energy, and construction sectors according to the highest international standards across the continent. Moreover, he expressed his desire to bring a high-level delegation from the public and private sectors to Niamey to establish direct communication channels between the two business communities and promote economic diplomacy as an effective tool to strengthen the evolving political ties between the two countries. He also encouraged participants to explore opportunities for cooperation and establish sustainable partnerships between the public and private sectors founded on trust and mutual interests.
He further expressed Egypt's desire to enhance technical and investment cooperation with Niger, urging the establishment of joint projects that benefit from the competitive advantages offered by the Egyptian market. For his part, Niger's minister of trade expressed his deep appreciation for the participation of the Egyptian delegation, stating that it reflects the depth of relations between the two countries and their shared desire to enhance economic and trade cooperation. He also praised Egypt's advanced industrial and investment expertise and capabilities.
The presence of the Egyptian delegation was seen as a strong message about Egypt's commitment to supporting development in Niger and strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors in both countries. Before the forum, a meeting was held between the foreign ministers of both countries and Niger's minister of trade, during which they discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and promote cooperation in various fields, particularly the economy, trade, and investment.
The Niger visit marks the third stop on Abdelatty's five-leg tour, which also includes Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal. The tour follows Egypt's active participation in the 47th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) earlier in July.