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Politics - 3 November 2025

Government Intensifies “Made in Niger” Drive and Deepens Engagement with Financial PartnersNIAMEY, Niger - Niger’s econo

By Amina Kabasele2 min readFrançais

On Thursday, November 6, 2025, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Abdoulaye Seydou, convened a meeting with import-export operators to reiterate strict compliance with the government’s mandatory local procurement policy. Seydou underscored that the measure does not signify economic isolation but rather a “lucid affirmation of our economic sovereignty.” The policy, he explained, seeks to shield domestic industries, foster local value chains, and guarantee stable market access for “Made in Niger” products - a central pillar of the country’s self-reliance strategy.

Simultaneously, Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine intensified engagement with Niger’s key development partners. On Monday, November 3, 2025, he received Moustapha Diaou, Resident Representative of the West African Development Bank (BOAD), to review priority cooperation frameworks. Discussions focused on BOAD’s ongoing and planned support to strategic national projects, notably the National Office for Hydro-Agricultural Development (ONAHA) and an initiative aimed at strengthening electricity production capacity through NIGELEC.

Later that same day, the Prime Minister held talks with a World Bank delegation led by Country Representative Affouda Léon Biaou. The meeting centered on the upcoming Financial Sector Support Project, which is expected to bolster liquidity, improve governance, and reinforce the resilience of Niger’s banking ecosystem. Zeine urged that the project be implemented “without delay,” describing it as essential to providing a “breath of fresh air” to the national financial system amid the government’s broader refoundation agenda.

Together, these engagements reflect Niger’s dual-track strategy - strengthening domestic production capacity while deepening pragmatic partnerships with international financial institutions - as it advances toward sustainable, self-directed economic development.

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