AfricaToday
Africa today is the centre of global attention. Certainly one can give various reasons for that increasing interest. Yet, among the reasons for the global revival of interest in Africa, the moves undertaken by Africans themselves for the future of the Continent play a significant role.
The African Union’s efforts in this endeavor have been instrumental. The African Union will continue to play an important role in achieving common goals such as the processes of national reconciliation, good governance and the rule of law, as well as in the consolidation of a better future for Africa.
Turkey supports the efforts of the African Union and of African countries towards peace, democracy, development and prosperity and Turkey is determined to work together with African nations as a friend and a partner, for regional cooperation, peace and sustainable development.
Turkey Today
Today, the total GDP of Turkey has reached 660 billion Dollars. This corresponds to the sixth largest in the EU if Turkey was a member and the 17th largest worldwide. Projection towards the future shows that, in 10 to 15 years, Turkey’s standing in the ranks will be going further upwards. It is an ambitious, but a realistic target that Turkey could be among the top ten economies of the world in about 15 years.
All economic indicators have been moving in a positive direction during the last 5 years. For example, Turkey’s exports were only 36 billion Dollars in 2002. Last year it amounted to 107 billion Dollars. FDI into Turkey traditionally was around 1 billion Dollars a year but in 2005 it started to pick up. It was approximately 10 billion Dollars in 2005. Last year it reached 22 billion Dollars.
Increased humanitarian and development assistance is becoming another defining feature of Turkish foreign policy, as evidenced by the fact that Turkey’s international aid budget has been steadily expanding over the recent years. The amount of official development assistance reached 714 million Dollars at the end of 2006. When combined with private sector assistance, this figure rises to 1.7 billion Dollars, placing Turkey among leading donors in the world.
In 2007, Turkey for the first time hosted a summit of the Least Developed Countries in the world. As a recent example of our multi-dimensional foreign policy, we hosted the Turkey-Pacific Foreign Ministers Conference in Istanbul.
Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) program coordination offices in African countries have now reached 3 (Addis Ababa, Khartoum and Dakar). With the opening of new Embassies all over the continent, we expect that the number of TİKA offices in Africa will increase as well.
Turkey and Africa Today
Turkey has traditionally maintained very good relations with the African continent. Nevertheless, the current level of political, economic and cultural interaction is far from reflecting the existing potential. This is the reason why Turkey and Africa aim for more.
Turkish Government has taken several initiatives regarding Africa. Turkey has been implementing an “Opening up to Africa Policy” since 1998. Recently, Turkey have declared the year 2005 as the “Year of Africa” in Turkey.
Turkey’s trade volume with African countries which was only 5.4 billion Dollars in 2003 increased more than two fold and exceeded 12 billion Dollars in 2007. Yet, considering that Turkey’s total trade volume with the World amounts to almost 300 billion dollars, current trade volume with African countries needs to be boosted seriously. Turkey’s target is to reach a trade volume of 30 billion Dollars with Africa by the end of 2010.
Turkish contractors have so far successfully completed over 3000 projects at international standards, in 70 countries across the globe. Total business volume of Turkish construction sector has reached 105 billion USD by the end of 2007. The share of African countries was 22% overall. This share increased rapidly during the last year reaching 29%, with a total of nearly 5,8 billion USD worth of projects.
Turkey’s investments in African countries in different fields exceed 400 million US Dollars, with 355 Turkish firms currently operating in various African countries.
It is no doubt that, for increasing Turkey’s commercial and economic relations with African countries, Turkish firms should have access to easy, cheap and fast transportation. Turkish Airlines currently flies to Addis Ababa, Khartoum, Lagos and Johannesburg and plans to operate more direct flights to several destinations in Africa. New means of transport, particularly in the maritime field are also under consideration.
Turkey welcomes the decision taken by the AfU during the AfU Summit in Addis Ababa in January 2008, declaring Turkey as one of its strategic partners. Turkey makes every effort in order to advance this partnership further.
Another endorsement of Turkey-Africa partnership has taken place last month. Turkey has become the 25th non-regional member of the African Development Bank in May 2008. This membership will undoubtedly open new areas of cooperation. Turkey’s membership to the African Development Bank will assist our contracting firms to undertake large infrastructure projects in the continent.
Why Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit?
After 10 years of a gradually evolving policy of opening up to Africa, Turkey now wishes to evaluate the current state of affairs and make a leap forward in the relationship. With this understanding, Turkey decided to host the Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit in İstanbul, on 18-21 August 2008.
During the Summit, we had the opportunity to evaluate our current level of cooperation and discuss future planning. The Summit also provided us with an opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with all participating African countries. We hope that these bilateral meetings will bring fruitful results in deepening Turkey-Africa cooperation.
The Summit unanimously adopted two important documents: “The Istanbul Declaration on Africa-Turkey Partnership: Solidarity and Partnership for a Common Future” and “Framework of Cooperation for Africa-Turkey Partnership”. The said documents put a road map ahead of Turkey and African countries. This process aims to further promote relations with African countries and explore additional ways and means based on concrete plans. Turkey considers “Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit” as the beginning of a steady, sustainable cooperation process.
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