Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit

(Press Release)--Turkey is determined to improve and develop its political, economic and cultural interaction with African countries.

The policy of opening up to Africa which was initiated in 1998 aims at completing the legal basis of Turkey’s relations with African countries in political, economic, commercial, military and cultural fields. Within this framework, Turkey declared the year 2005 as the ‘Year of Africa’. Turkey has recently earmarked $15million for small scale projects from African countries and announced an additional sum of $50 million to be allocated for African countries on a project basis.

Turkey’s humanitarian assistance to Africa since 2005 is now over $12million. Turkey is currently providing personnel and financial contribution to 6 of the existing 8 UN missions in Africa. Turkey’s financial contribution to UN peacekeeping operations in Africa is over $7million. The total trade volume between Turkey and African countries has amounted to $12.8billion in 2007. Turkey’s target is to reach a trade volume of $30billion by the end of 2010.

Imports of Turkey from Africa have risen from $3.3 in 2003 to $6.7billion in 2007. The total amount of direct investments by Turkish companies in Africa have exceeded $400million. Turkish construction firms have undertaken nearly $5.8 billion USD worth of projects in Africa in 2007. Since 2000, Turkey has provided higher education scholarships to almost 2000 students from African countries.

Turkey operates a pharmacy and two hospitals in Africa to assist the local communities to alleviate their health problems. Turkish and African technical experts are already in co-operation in the following fields: agriculture, agribusiness, rural development and water resources management, the development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), civil defence, security, struggle against malnutrition, communicable and epidemic diseases, efficient transportation network, energy and mineral resources exploration and evaluation, education, science and technology, youth activities, sports and cultural exchange programmes.

Turkey will continue to provide developmental and humanitarian assistance to African countries, focusing particularly on projects aimed at the utilization of local resources, the creation of local employment and the development of human resources. In order to further promote Turkey’s relations with African countries, Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit will be held in İstanbul on 18-21 August 2008 with the participation of Heads of state and/or heads of government from all African countries under the theme: ‘Solidarity and true partnership for a comon future’. During the Summit, current level of cooperation will be evaluated and additional ways and means for cooperation will be discussed.

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