President Erdoğan: Algeria is one of Turkey’s strategic partners in North Africa
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at Turkey-Algeria Business Forum.
President Erdoğan began his remarks by thanking President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria and the Algerian authorities for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation.
“WE WILL FURTHER BOOST OUR COOPERATION WITH AFRICA”
Noting that the total trade volume between Turkey and African countries has risen by 381 percent in the last 27 years and reached $26 billion, President Erdoğan said: “Our export volume to this continent alone has reached $16 billion. Turkey’s net investment worth in this region has risen as far as $2 billion. The market value of these investments exceeds $6 billion. Back in 2015, there were 30 business councils between Turkey and African countries. This figure has risen to 45 in 2019. The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), with its 22 program coordination offices, has been leading a new and original development model across the continent. Our flag carrier, the Turkish Airlines, runs flights from Istanbul to 58 locations in 38 African countries. As part of the Türkiye Scholarships programme, we provide education to 4 500 African students at Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD levels. Inshallah, we will further boost our cooperation with the continent in the period ahead. We will work together shoulder to shoulder to increase our trade volume up to $50 billion.”
“ALGERIA IS ONE OF TURKEY’S STRATEGIC PARTNERS IN NORTH AFRICA”
“We see Algeria as a friendly and brotherly country as well as one of our strategic partners in North Africa. Algeria is one of Turkey’s most important gateways to the Maghreb and Africa,” President Erdoğan said.
“To Turkey, embracing the entire African continent, North Africa in particular, has a meaning beyond economic and commercial interests. Our country’s approach towards these lands has never been a product of a desire for unilateral gain. We want to produce together, advance together and grow richer together,” President Erdoğan said.
“We have decided to increase our bilateral trade volume to $5 billion as soon as possible. Also, with the joint declaration we signed, we have established a high-level cooperation council between our two countries,” President Erdoğan noted.
Underlining the need for a free trade agreement between Turkey and Algeria, President Erdoğan said: “I believe it would be felicitous to begin negotiations for a free trade agreement to further deepen our economic relations.”
Highlighting Turkey’s significant progress in defense industry, President Erdoğan voiced Turkey’s desire to further cooperation with Algeria in defense industry.
