Turkey, Ethiopia agree to raise trade volume
Feb 8, 2007 (ANKARA) — Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday pledged increased Turkish support to development projects in Ethiopia as part of Turkey’s efforts to forge closer ties with African nations.
Speaking at a joint news conference with visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Erdogan said a Turkish development agency would widen its involvement in Ethiopia by supporting education, health and vocational training there.
“We (the government) plan to launch educational, health and vocational courses in Ethiopia jointly with TIKA (Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency) in coming days,” said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Holding a joint press conference with his Ethiopian counterpart Meles Zenawi in Ankara, Erdogan said that he agreed with Meles to raise the bilateral trade volume from 150 to 500m US dollars.
Erdogan recalled that Turkey is to adopt an agreement to avoid double taxation with Ethiopia and expressed belief that this agreement will speed up economic ties between the two countries.
“TIKA inaugurated its first office in Addis Ababa. It has digged some 20 wells in this country so far. We have nine embassies in African countries and we plan to open more. This will enhance our diplomatic relations with Africa,” he stressed.
Erdogan was the first Turkish prime minister who visited Ethiopia, while Meles is the first Ethiopian premier visiting Turkey. Erdogan’s formal visit to Ethiopia goes back to 2005.
Prime Minister Erdogan also participated in the Eighth African Union Summit held in Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on 29 January 2006.
Meles appreciated Turkey’s efforts to enhance its cooperation with African countries and said that it will be for the best interests of Turkish companies to invest in Ethiopia.
Before the press conference, Turkey and Ethiopia signed two cooperation agreements in areas of agriculture and tourism.
Meles will be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and attend a dinner to be hosted in his honour by Prime Minister Erdogan at the prime minister residence.
(Anatolia/AP)