THE Turkish government has increased the number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Zimbabwe to improve bilateral trade between the two countries.
BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA
Currently, a draft MoU in the field of Tourism between Turkey and Zimbabwe is expected to bolster tourism in the country and is in its final stage.
Turkish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Kadir Hidayet Eris told NewsDay in emailed responses that the Turkish government attached great importance to bilateral trade.
Turkish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Kadir Hidayet Eris
“We attach great importance to increase the volume of our bilateral trade. Trade volume between our two countries which is very far from reflecting the real potential, was only $14 million in 2014. We give priority to concluding all the necessary agreements to establish a solid legal framework to further our growing political, economic and trade relations,” Eris said.
“Our bilateral trade volume has reached to $23,4 billion in 2014 with the African continent out of which $8,4 billion is with sub-Saharan Africa. When we compare the figures in 2000 which was about only $750 million the increase is more than tenfold.”
Some of the MoUs recently signed and expected to be implemented include one that might see Turkish Airlines flying into Zimbabwe.
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“… within the framework of the existing civil aviation agreement between our two countries, there are strong signs that the Turkish Airlines inaugurating flights between Turkey and Zimbabwe may start before the end of this year,” he said.
Eris said a draft agreement on Trade and Economic Co-operation had been prepared to strengthen co-operation in various economic fields as well as to establish a Joint Economic Commission at ministerial level for promoting and facilitating trade and economic co-operation between the two countries.
Last year, a draft MoU was signed on co-operation in the field of agriculture between Turkey and Zimbabwe.
“We believe that by signing these MoUs and agreements we will carry forward the existing bilateral relations. However, current reciprocal high level interaction has been increasing. Many high level expert visits from Zimbabwe to Turkey have taken place,” Eris said.
“Apart from these visits, the coordinating chairperson of the Turkish-African business councils in Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), Tamer Taskin, paid a visit to Zimbabwe.”
Taskin held meetings with the ministers of Industry and Commerce, Transport and Infrastructural Development and Finance and Economic Development and other high level officials in the economic area.
Turkish contractors are among the major undertakers on the continent. Africa constitutes 19% of Turkish contractors’ international business volume.
Turkish contractors have undertaken projects amounting to $39 billion in Africa between 1972 and 2013.
