Embassy of India
Niamey
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Press Release
20 September 2018
Establishment of Mahatma Gandhi International Convention Centre in Niger
On 19 September, 2018, India and Niger announced their partnership for establishment of the Mahatma Gandhi International Convention Centre (MGICC) in Niamey (Niger). A Memorandum of Understanding for Implementation of Mahatma Gandhi International Convention Centre (MGICC) with Government of India’s Grant Assistance was signed in the presence of Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister, and H. E. Mr. Saidil Moctar Mohamed, Minister and Special Adviser to the President of Republic of Niger, by Mr. T. S. Tirumurti, Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, and H. E. Mr. Ali Illiassou, Ambassador of Republic of Niger in India.
Mr. Saidil Mohamed, during his visit to New Delhi, called on the External Affairs Minister on 19 September 2018 and thanked India for providing Grant Assistance to build MGICC. They also discussed other issues of bilateral and regional interest, including combating terrorism, development partnership etc. Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. M. J. Akbar, also hosted a Lunch in honour of the visiting Minister.
India and Niger enjoy close relations. The bilateral relations have expanded significantly since the opening of the Indian resident Diplomatic Mission in Niamey in 2009. India has provided Lines of Credit worth US$ 96.54 million for projects in transport, electrification, solar energy and potable drinking water. India’s grant assistance for MGICC will further contribute towards enhancing of bilateral ties.
The Convention Centre, which would be a spacious, modern and eco-friendly facility, is being established in the context of the African Union (AU) Summit that Niger is to host in 2019 and which would witness high-level and wide-ranging participation from AU Member States.
The Centre honours the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, whose 150th birth anniversary is also being observed in 2019. The establishment of the Centre is a landmark for Niger-India friendship, as also a symbol of India’s firm commitment towards Africa.
It may be noted that in response to growing request from countries in Africa, India has offered to establish Mahatma Gandhi Convention Centres in more than 20 countries in Africa, of which Centres in 9 countries are being taken up in the immediate phase.
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