"Africa is bursting with enormous potential in agriculture, in livestock, in mining, in oil, and so Africa really is the continent of the future, it's Africa that will make the world go round," said Ali Adji Mahamat Seid, who is also the head of Chad's Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, Mines and Crafts.
One of the key objectives of this pan-African institution is "to make Africa a major market that counts on the international market through a common market," he added. To achieve this, it is necessary to "accompany the African Continental Free Trade Area within the framework of the Continental Free Trade Area" and consolidate the achievements of the various chambers.
Domains to cooperate in with Russia
In the midst of Lavrov's visit to N'Djamena, Ali Adji Mahamat Seid discussed with Sputnik Africa the potential of relations with Moscow.
"Chad has very particular needs in the field of infrastructure, agriculture, because Chad has enormous potential in agriculture. And everyone knows that Russia is one of the biggest exporters of fertilizers in the world," he said on the sidelines of SPIEF-2024.
"The domains [of cooperation] are vast and why not the field of security too. We know that Russia has agreements with countries on our borders, such as Niger, the Central African Republic and Libya. So we can also consider working in this direction", he added.
According to the official, the planned meeting between the Chadian authorities and the head of Russian diplomacy "will mark the strengthening of our cooperation, especially in the economic field," between Moscow and N'Djamena.
Lavrov's trip follows the visit of Chad's transitional President, Mahamat Idriss Déby, to Moscow in January at Vladimir Putin's invitation.
Cooperation in Defense
Africans "ask themselves whether there is really a will to help" defeat terrorism, while Westerners "have the necessary logistical, military, and even intelligence resources," Ali Adji Mahamat Seid said on the sidelines of SPIEF-2024.
Meanwhile, some countries that cooperate with Russia in the military field "are satisfied with it," according to the official, who is also president of the Chadian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He noted that Chad does not yet have such military cooperation, but "a different experience with Russia will allow us to have much more pragmatic solutions to these problems."
The Republic of Chad is interested in expanding defense cooperation with Russia, including a common fight against terrorism, announced Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a press conference following his visit to this African country.