country declines business, investment forum with Nigeria
The State of Qatar has said that it would not be available for a business and investment forum during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the country in March.
President Tinubu is due to visit Qatar from March 2 to March 3, on the invitation of the State of Qatar.
In a note verbale with reference number QEA\FA\057\24, dated February 22, 2024, and addressed to the Protocol Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja said: “Regarding the upcoming state visit of H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Qatar from 2nd-3rd March 2024 and with reference to your note: Ref: ME.631\2024 dated 12/02/2024, which proposed holding of a Business and Investment Forum (BIF) on the margins of Mr. President’s visit to Qatar on 2nd March, 2024, the Embassy has the honour to inform that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologizes that it will not be able to hold a Business and Investment Forum as proposed by Nigerian side due to the following reasons:
“Unfortunately, there is no any agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection.
“His Excellency, the Minister of Commerce and Industry will be carrying out official missions outside the country during the upcoming visit period.
“The State of Qatar will be hosting a Web Summit during the suggested period and the State’s authorities will be preoccupied with this event.”
Responding to the development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it won’t comment on the leaked notice.
The Ministry, however, said that President Tinubu would embark on a state visit to Qatar from 2nd – 3rd March, 2024 to further cement the excellent relations existing between the two countries.
In a statement issued by its Spokesperson, Francisca Omayuli, the Ministry also said that during the visit, discussions would be held at the highest level, on a wide range of bilateral and economic issues.
“The president will be accompanied on the trip by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar (OON), among some other Ministers and top government officials.
“The Ministry is aware of the circulation of a diplomatic correspondence on the social media and wishes to state that it will not comment on leaks,” Omayuli said.
Commenting on the note verbale, a source within the diplomatic community, said there was nothing strange about the note verbale.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “In international engagements, there are rules that need to be followed. If you say you want to host a business forum, both chambers of commerce have to organise it.
“What Qatar is saying is that we did not have any agreement with them. So, there is nothing strange about the memo.”
Similarly, the Presidency yesterday also said that contrary to online report, President Tinubu’s state visit to Qatar between 2 and 3 March, 2024, will hold as planned.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency reacting to a report claiming that Tinubu was snubbed, said it emanated from a leaked diplomatic correspondence between the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Onanuga explained that the note verbale is about a private sector-led Business and Investment Forum to be held on the margins of President Tinubu’s State visit.
He said: “We are aware of a leaked diplomatic correspondence between the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Qatar between 2 and 3 March, 2024.
“The leaked diplomatic paper by mischief-makers about an investment forum is not in any way a snub on President Tinubu by the Qatari government.
“The Note Verbale is about a private sector-led Business and Investment Forum to be held on the margins of President Bola Tinubu’s State Visit.
“The event is being put together by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Qatar’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry where business people from Nigeria will engage their counterparts from Qatar on commercial and investment opportunities available in both countries.
“We note the strong bilateral relationship between our two countries and affirm that the state visit by President Bola Tinubu to Qatar is on the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, His Highness, Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.
“The state visit is particularly aimed at strengthening the bilateral economic cooperation between Nigeria and Qatar.
“NACCIMA and Qatar Chambers of Commerce and Industry are collaborating to take advantage of President Tinubu’s visit to Doha to mobilise the business community from our two countries to explore opportunities in key economic sectors such as oil & gas, manufacturing, agro-business, construction, real estate, ICT, Renewable Energy, Solid Minerals and service sector, among others.
“President Tinubu is expected to proceed to Qatar on the state visit as scheduled and during the visit, the Nigerian leader will engage in high-level bilateral discussions with Qatari leader on many important matters, covering the full range of diplomatic and economic issues.
“It is not correct for anyone to insinuate that the Qatari authorities have snubbed the Nigerian leader over a business and investment forum which is tangential to the all-important state visit and which President Tinubu is slated to attend as a guest.
“President Tinubu and His Highness Al-Thani are both committed to maintaining and building on the existing cordial and special relationship between Nigeria and the State of Qatar.”
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