Qatar Declines President Bola Tinubu’s Request for Business and Investment Talks
In a recent development, the authorities in Qatar have rejected the request of President Bola Tinubu to visit the nation and engage in discussions regarding business and investment opportunities.
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The Qatari government, in a letter addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, cited the absence of a legally binding agreement between Qatar and Nigeria for the promotion of investment as the primary reason for declining the visit.
According to the letter dated February 22, the Qatari Ministry of Commerce and Industry expressed its regrets, stating, “The Embassy has the honour to inform that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologises that it will not be able to hold a Business and Investment Forum as proposed by the Nigerian side.
The rejection was based on the lack of a signed agreement between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and Protection. Furthermore, the Ministry highlighted that its officials, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Thani, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, would be engaged in official missions outside the country during the proposed visit period.
The letter also emphasized that Qatar would be hosting a web summit during the same period, indicating that the state’s authorities would be preoccupied with the event. This dual commitment made it challenging to reschedule the business forum, raising questions about Qatar’s willingness to forge an economic alliance with Nigeria.
This incident follows a trend, as last year, the United Arab Emirates authorities disputed an announcement claiming the lifting of a visa ban on Nigerians after President Tinubu’s visit to UAE leader Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Qatar Rejects President Bola Tinubu’s Request for Business and Investment Talks
