DAKSHIN

Niger

Bilateral relations between India and Niger are cordial. Bilateral activities gained momentum after our Mission in Niamey was opened in May 2009. Niger opened its Embassy in New Delhi in November, 2011.

Ambassador Prem Nair paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at the MG International Convention Centre in Niamey

Ambassador Prem Nair paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at the MG International Convention Centre in Niamey on the occasion of Mahatma's 151st birth anniversary. The MGICC built with grant assistance from India has become one of the iconic landmarks of Niamey.

Ambassador Mr. Hansraj Chhilwar wishing the Nigerien candidates, who are traveling to India to attend training courses on different fields within the framework of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation

Ambassador Prem Nair handed over 25,000 doses of Covishield vaccine to the Minister of Public Health Mr. Ahmed Boto at Niamey airport

Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic

India provided a relief package of basic medicines to Niger in September 2005 during the period of food crisis in Niger. An assistance of US $ 100,000/- was given to Niger in August 2010 to help it tide over the food crisis. Essential medicines worth US$ 40000/- to support the management of COVID-19 pandemic in Niger were donated on 28 May 2020 and 24 August 2020. 25000 doses of Covishield vaccines were supplied to Niger as grant in March 2021.

Capacity Building & Other Exchanges

Niger has been making good utilization of the 160 ITEC slots and 5 ICCR slots earmarked for the country [ITEC slots utilized: 154 in 2017-18, 143 in 2018-19 and 48 in 2019-20 (courses curtailed due to Covid)]. ITEC courses in the physical mode remained suspended in 2020-21 and 2021-22. For 2022-23,156 ITEC slots have been allocated to Niger. Three ITEC defence slots (army), were utilized in 2019-20, followed by 2 in 2021-21 and 7 (5 Army + 2 Air Force) in 2021-22.
Five ICCR scholarships were utilized by Niger in 2019-20, 3 in 2020-21 and four in 2021-22. Five ICCR scholarships have been made available for Nigerien students in 2022-23 & 2023-24 under Africa Scholarship Scheme.

Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)

A grant of USD 35.484 million was extended for construction of Mahatma Gandhi International Convention Centre (MGICC) in September 2018. The project was completed and inaugurated in January 2020.
In June 2019, GoI extended a grant assistance of USD 15 million to the Government of Niger for defraying part of the expenses towards hosting of the AU Summit in July 2019 in Niamey.
India has extended lines of credit (LOCs) worth USD 96.54 million for projects which are all now completed. They include procurement of buses, trucks, etc.; rehabilitation of power stations, transmission lines; solar electrification; potable water through bore wells.
In addition, projects totalling USD 131.50 million have been approved for Niger from the LoCs extended to ECOWAS Bank for Investment & Development (EBID) in 2015.
India has extended a total of 6 LoCs [including 2 LoCs extended through ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)] amounting to US $ 202.94 million to Niger covering sectors of Road and Transport, Agriculture, Power, Potable Water, Solar Electrification, etc. Projects under three LOCs amounting to US $ 62 million have been completed in the sectors of Road and Transport, Agriculture, Power and Potable Water. Projects under three LOCs (including 2 LOCs extended through EBID) amounting to US $ 140.94 million are under various stages of implementation in the sectors of Solar Electrification and Potable Water supply.