President Erdoğan: We seek to enhance our bilateral trade relations in a balanced manner and on the win-win basis
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the Turkey-Senegal Business Forum in Senegal.
“OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE OUR TRADE VOLUME TO $1 BILLION”
“It is important for us to improve our relations with Senegal, a precious friend and partner of ours, in every area,” said the President. “In this regard, we had previously set some targets to enhance our bilateral trade volume. First, we had designated $250 million as the target and then achieved it. Now, our goal, in line with the talks we have held today, is to increase our trade volume to $1 billion in the medium term.”
President Erdoğan continued: “The bilateral trade is mainly made up of Turkey’s exports to Senegal. We seek to enhance our bilateral trade relations in a balanced manner and on the win-win basis. Turkish and Senegalese economies have features that complement one another. A G-20 member and a major economic power in its region, Turkey offers an important market for Senegalese manufacturers.”
“SINCERITY IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF OUR RELATIONS WITH AFRICA”
Voicing Turkey’s belief that the best solutions to Africa’s problems can be developed by the Africans themselves, President Erdoğan stated: “Our African brothers don’t need the guidance of old imperial powers. Our African friends need companions who will stand by them through thick and thin beyond self-interest. Turkey, whose ancient ties with the continent date back a thousand years, shares a common fate with the Africans. Brotherhood and sincerity are the very essence of our relations with Africa. Our aim is to win together, achieve together and walk together.”
Quoting an African proverb, “A day-long rainwater cannot penetrate deep into soil,” President Erdoğan noted: “We work to build sincere ties and long-term friendships and to cooperate on the win-win basis with the countries of the continent. We aim to enhance cooperation in tourism and education, to support the youth, and to strengthen rural economy and agricultural development as well as the infrastructure in the continent.”
