Turkey and Niger have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic cooperation in the mining sector, as top officials from both countries met on Thursday in Ankara to advance a shared agenda of investment, innovation, and sustainable development.
Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar held discussions with Niger’s Minister of Mines, Ousmane Abarchi, during the latter’s visit to Istanbul for the Natural Resources Summit.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the summit, explored new avenues to operationalise a memorandum of understanding signed by both nations in 2024.
According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, the dialogue focused on initiating joint mining projects and facilitating technology transfer to boost sectoral growth in Niger, a country rich in untapped mineral resources.
Bayraktar reiterated Türkiye’s broader goal of cultivating long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships across Africa, describing the collaboration with Niger as a model for sustainable resource development.
“Bayraktar affirmed Turkey’s commitment to developing sustainable strategic partnerships in Africa, stressing the shared determination with Niger to expand investments and enhance cooperation in the mining sector for mutual benefits,” the report stated.
The ministers also examined potential frameworks for joint exploration, resource processing, and infrastructure development to support mining activities in Niger, where resource extraction remains a key driver of economic growth.
Niger, one of the world’s leading producers of uranium, has increasingly looked to diversify foreign partnerships in its mining industry amid a shifting geopolitical landscape.
Turkey, for its part, continues to expand its influence and economic presence on the African continent through trade, infrastructure, and resource-focused diplomacy.
The Istanbul summit offered a platform for energy and resource officials from various nations to exchange insights and forge new collaborations.
For Turkey and Niger, Thursday’s talks signal a renewed push to turn political goodwill into concrete industrial partnerships, rooted in technology exchange and sustainable development goals.
Source: BNA