The Qatar authorities yesterday reversed their earlier stand on the hosting of a business and investment forum with a Nigerian delegation during the forthcoming visit of President Bola Tinubu to Doha.
President Tinubu is scheduled to be in Doha, the Qatari capital, on a two-day official visit, between 2 and 3 March.
The Qatari authorities had ruled out the possibility of a business meeting with Nigeria during the visit.
In a leaked Note Verbale, Qatar claimed that a lack of existing business agreement between both countries caused the turning down of the business forum proposal by its Nigerian counterpart.
The Qatari Embassy in Abuja, which had rejected Nigeria’s proposal for the business forum, yesterday confirmed that there would be a business forum.
A new note verbale to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads: “The Embassy has the honour to convey that the Qatari Chamber of Commerce will host the above-mentioned event on 3 March 2024, as proposed by the Nigerian side”.
Also, a spokesperson for the Qatar Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted to host the Business and Investment Forum during President Tinubu’s visit.
“We believe that this forum will be a valuable opportunity to strengthen economic ties between Qatar and Nigeria”.
Another statement by the media aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim Abdulkadir, said the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja had clarified the lineup of events on the upcoming state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Qatar on 2 and 3 March on the hosting of a Business and Investment Forum (BIF) on the margins of Mr President’s visit to Qatar on 2 March.
Also, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Oye, has said there are no plans to cancel the Business and Investment Forum in Doha on 2 and 3 March.
In a statement, Oye said: “In light of recent developments and the circulating news regarding the upcoming Business and Investment Forum scheduled to be held in Qatar, we, at the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), wish to address our valued members, business community, and all involved stakeholders.
“We acknowledge the concerns raised following the leak of diplomatic correspondence that has led to some uncertainty regarding the forum. We would like to clarify that this event is a significant element of the broader context of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Qatar, scheduled between 2 and 3 March 2024. This visit underscores the strong commitment between Nigeria and the State of Qatar to deepen bilateral economic cooperation”.
The Business and Investment Forum, organised in collaboration with Qatar’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry, is designed to provide an unparalleled platform for Nigerian businesses to engage with their Qatari counterparts.
