Turkey wants to play role in Niger's development

ANKARA

Turkey wants to take part in the "great vision" of Niger's development plan, Turkey’s foreign minister said on Tuesday in the Nigerien capital Niamey.

"We would like to make a contribution to Niger’s development in the areas of transportation, construction, energy, mining and agriculture," Mevlut Cavusoglu told a press conference in Niger, the second stop on a West African tour.

Speaking after talks with Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou, Cavusoglu said they had spoken at length on boosting relations between the two countries.

"With the president, we also evaluated [bilateral] cooperation against terrorism. We saw how Africa in general and especially Niger and the Sahel region are affected by terrorism," he said.

Regional countries are being affected by the fragile situation in war-torn Libya, just north of Niger, he said, adding that Libya was also discussed during the meeting.

Libya, beset by a war against its legitimate government, has been a main transit point for Africans seeking economic opportunities in Europe.

Cavusoglu added that the two countries will also sign agreements on military cooperation, sports, and youth during his visit.

Following talks in Togo on Monday, Cavusoglu arrived in Niger on the second stop of his three-nation West African tour, to conclude with Equatorial Guinea.

Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership, Turkey has pursued an unprecedented outreach to Africa based on the principle of win-win.

As part of the country’s cooperation with Africa, the Turkish government has donated millions of dollars for infrastructure development on the continent and sponsored hundreds of African students.

Turkey’s presence is felt across the continent, where there are a number of Turkish organizations, including the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Maarif Foundation, and Yunus Emre Institute, among others.