South Africa to help Niger

South Africa has agreed to help develop coal mines in Niger to provide cheap cooking fuel for local people and to promote exports of beef and cattle hides. It has also agreed to study the possibility of establishing a new air link between Niamey and Europe to improve transport links between this remote landlocked country and the outside world. These initiatives were outlined in a cooperation agreement signed at the end of a two-day visit by South African Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosozana Zuma. The cooperation agreement with South Africa also provides for South African investors to build a modern slaughterhouse and meat packing plant to promote meat and leather exports. Livestock farming contributes an estimated 12% to Niger's gross domestic product (GDP). Finally, South Africa said it would look at the possibility of some South African Airways flights stopping in Niamey on their way to Europe. At present, Niger's only direct air link to countries outside West Africa is a twice-weekly flight to Paris by Air France.