Qatar has rejected a business and investment forum trip of President Bola Tinubu to the Arab country, Peoples Gatteze is reporting.
The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja, in a letter dated February 22, 2024, disclosed that the Qatari government would not be able to welcome Tinubu and hold the proposed forum on March 2 and 3 due to the lack of a legally binding agreement between Qatar and Nigeria for the promotion of investment.
It also noted that its ministry of commerce had other commitments on the days Mr Tinubu desired to visit.
The letter was addressed to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria.
“The Embassy of the State of Qatar in Abuja presents its compliments to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Regarding the upcoming state visit of H. E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Qatar from March 2 and 3, 2024 and with reference to your note: Ref: ME.631 2024 dated 12/02/2024, which proposed the holding of a business and investment forum on the margins of Mr President’s visit to Qatar on March 2, 2024.
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.
There is no 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,” the letter reads.
