Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kaymakci pointed out that the amount of projects undertaken by Turkiye in Africa exceeds $82 billion, “We attach importance to our relations with Africa.”
Turkiye, which develops its relations with African countries day by day, reinforces this with the bills coming to the Parliament’s agenda. In this context, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, at its last meeting, discussed and accepted the bills of law ratifying the international agreements signed with Congo, Angola, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Chad and Sierra Leone in various fields.
The number of embassies in Africa has reached 44
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kaymakci informed the deputies of the commission about Turkiye’s relations with these countries and the expectations of the countries from Turkiye. Kaymakci said that with the opening of the Bissau Embassy, the number of embassies in Africa reached 44 in Turkiye.
Pointing out that political, cultural, economic and commercial ties with African countries are getting stronger, Kaymakci stated that the trade volume, which was $4.3 billion in the early 2000s, exceeded $35 billion.
Noting that the amount of projects undertaken by Turkiye in Africa exceeds $82 billion, and the direct investment level of Turkish companies in the continent is around $6 billion, Kaymakci said, “We attach importance to our relations with Africa.”
“Agreement on investment promotion and protection with 110 countries”
Reminding that the third Turkiye-Africa Partnership Summit was held in Istanbul in December 2021, Kaymakci stated that Congo is an important country in Africa in terms of both its area and population size. Pointing out that mineral deposits and large arable lands provide a good basis for the revival of economic relations between Turkiye and Congo, Kaymakci said, “Our trade volume with Congo is increasing regularly; we increased it to the level of $70 million in 2021, it reached $90 billion in the first 10 months of this year.”
Explaining that Congo is a country where the private sector grows, Kaymakci said, “The Congo side especially wants to work with our companies in sectors such as construction, agriculture, food, textile and automotive and encourages our companies. In this context, we signed an agreement on promotion and protection of investments with Congo, where our relations have developed and intensified, as we did with 110 countries.”
“Angola seeks support from Turkiye”
Kaymakci stated that Angola wants support from Turkiye in the fields of economic diversification, trade, investment and agriculture as a state policy. Expressing that they want to contribute to the diversity of economic resources in Angola, Kaymakci noted that especially the demands related to the construction sector are at the forefront.
Kaymakci said that considering the rapid increase in the existing commercial and economic cooperation between Turkiye and Angola, cooperation especially in customs matters will contribute.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kaymakci stated that Tanzania, which has a coast of 1400 kilometers on the Indian Ocean, has some expectations from Turkiye regarding illegal fishing.
Explaining that Tanzania attaches importance to cooperation with Turkiye in the defense industry, illegal fishing and the fight against terrorism, Kaymakci emphasized that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s official visit to Tanzania in January 2017 was a turning point in relations.
Referring to the deepening relations with Tanzania, Kaymakci noted that Tanzania’s opening of the Ankara Embassy in 2017 also accelerated the relations.
“Ethiopia is the country where we invest the most in Sub-Saharan Africa”
Kaymakci stated that with an investment of $2.5 billion in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, the country in which Turkiye invests the most is Ethiopia.
Pointing out that Ethiopia, where contacts have increased, is one of the countries that have a weight in the Horn of Africa geography and that gives special importance to relations, Kaymakci said, “Civil strife, internal conflict continues in the country; a ceasefire was reached on November 2, 2022, with the efforts of the African Union and our support. We also support this ceasefire process and continue to call on the parties for stability and peace.”
Kaymakci stated that with the opening of mutual embassies between Turkiye and Chad in 2013-2014, political and military contacts and commercial relations have increased rapidly.
Stating that the relations seem to progress in the military field, Kaymakci said, “Chad has security concerns in the sub-Saharan region, it wants to get support from us in its operations against some terrorist organizations. We believe that such a framework agreement will be beneficial for the stability of Chad and the strengthening of the Chad army.”
“Sierra Leone awaits investment in solar energy”
Kaymakci stated that Turkish companies are starting to become more active in the mining and fishing sectors in Sierra Leone.
Expressing that Sierra Leone has a serious electricity need and expects investments from Turkish companies, especially in solar energy, Kaymakci explained that commercial relations with Sierra Leone, which opened the Ankara Embassy in November 2020, are gradually increasing.
Noting that Turkish companies have started to exist in this country, especially in the construction sector, Kaymakci noted that the demand for visa applications and arrivals from Sierra Leone to Turkiye has also increased.
Source: Trthaber / Translated by Irem Yildiz