The Embassy of the State of Qatar has confirmed the country’s willingness to hold the Business and Investment Forum (BIF) on the margins of Mr. President’s visit to Qatar on 2“ March 2024.
Recall that the country previously rejected to hold the Forum in a leaked Note Verbale, stating that there was no agreement signed between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Investment Promotion and protection.
Qatar also noted that its Minister of Commerce and Industry would be carrying out official missions outside the country during the upcoming visit period.
It further disclosed that it would be hosting a Web Summit during the suggested period and the State’s authorities would be preoccupied with the event.
This was misunderstood by a section of Nigerian Media to mean an outright rejection of Tinubu’s visit by the Qatari Authorities.
However, in a fresh Note Verbale on Sunday, February 25, 2024, the Qatar Chamber of Commerce agreed to host the Forum on March 3, 2024, as proposed by the Nigerian Government.
The Note Verbale read thus:
“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 2=4-3 March 2024 and with reference to our Note: Ref: QEA\FA\057\26 dated 22/02/2024 regarding holding of a Business and Investment Forum (BIF) on the margins of Mr. President’s visit to Qatar on 2“ March 2024.
“The Embassy has the honour to convey that the Qatar Chamber of Commerce will host the above-mentioned event on 3rd March 2024, as proposed by the Nigerian side.
“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”, it read.
