Paris, France - Niger needs 9 billion euro over five years to implement development programmes that focus particularly on the building of a railway network and food self-sufficiency, the West African country's president, Mahamadou Issoufou, said on Wednesday in Paris. Speaking at the end of a meeting with French president Nicolas Sarkozy, president Issoufou called on the country's partners to help his government raise the money needed to implement Niger's development programme.

'We are determined to see Niger people build a railway to set up modern infrastructure. For this, we rely on the support of silent partners, including France,' Niger's president said.

President Issoufou, who arrived on Monday in Paris for a one-week private visit, is due to meet officials of the French group Arevan, Niger's partner in the exploitation of uranium.

Pana 07/07/2011