President Michel Suleiman headed on Tuesday to Africa on an 8-day tour at the head of a delegation, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The President will hold talks with senior African officials in Senegal, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria in addition to the Lebanese community in those countries. Suleiman is accompanied by first lady Wafaa and is heading a delegation that includes Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, Deputy Prime Minister Samir Moqbel, Agriculture Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan, Sports and Youth Minister Faisal Karami, Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud and several businessmen. The president is expected to return on March 20 to chair a cabinet session the next day at the Baabda Palace.

According to sources close to the president, the tour comes in light of the economic boom in Africa to attract investments to Lebanon.The sources told As Safir newspaper earlier that the visit will focus on fortifying ties with the African countries that have promising investment sectors.

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