NIAMEY

Reporting by Erkan Avci

Niger's Prime Minister Brigi Rafini has said that the cooperation between Turkey and Niger would increase in the coming days following his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Niamey, the Nigerian capital, in January, 2013.
"Of course there is a cooperation between Turkey and Niger but it was not dynamic until the visit of Turkish PM Erdogan in January. His arrival gave a new impetus to this cooperation," Rafini told AA correspondent in an exclusive interview.
Rafini told that trade volume between both countries in the recent years escalated as part of Turkey's Africa initiative. He said that the trade volume has reached 39 million US dollars at the end of 2012. Rafini stated that the number was not revealing the potential.
Noting that the link between Turkey and Niger was coming from the centuries back, he said, "There are many historical, cultural, philosophical links between the two countries. We have a strong hope with Turkey and the links are going to maintain sustainable relations".
He stated that there were concrete projects that have been elaborated with the approval of Turkish authorities, Rafini said the construction of 450 km long road between Niamey and Agades cities was one of the extraordinary example of the projects.
"This road will completely transform the region economically and other landlocked areas, contribute to the return of prosperity, food production as well as food self-sufficiency during the whole year," he said.
Rafini also mentioned that different projects in the fields of health, education, environment and hydraulics were carried out.
"It is a concrete and operational cooperation, in words and deeds, and profitable for both people," Rafini said.