Sudan, Turkey forge agreements to boost economic ties

April 9, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese and Turkish government signed a number of agreements that are focused mainly on enhancing economic ties between the two sides.

A Turkish delegation headed by its agriculture minister Mehmet Mehdi Eker visited Sudan this week for the 11th joint economic commission meetings.

Eker’s counterpart Al-Zebeir Bashir Taha chaired the Sudanese side during the meetings and lauded the “historical” ties between the two countries “in different areas”.

The agreements signed deal with agriculture, industry, commerce, healthcare, education, tourism, investment, strategic planning, culture, youth and sports, naval lines, livestock, river transportation and exchanging visits between businessmen on both sides.

The Turkish minister said that holding the session in Khartoum aims at improving bilateral relations. He further said that his country and Sudan want to lift the living standards of their citizens through the joint commission.

Eker said that Turkey attached great importance to improvement of relations with African countries.

“There have been sound ties between Turkey and Sudan. Turkish investors should have similar facilities that have been in practice for Chinese investors. Visa procedure should also be eased for Turkish businessmen” he said.

The official expressed his readiness to help Sudan bolster its agricultural exports by providing technical assistance and help market it in the European markets.

Both delegations met after the conclusion of the commission with the Sudanese 2nd Vice president Ali Osman Taha who called on the private sector in Turkey and Sudan to strengthen their ties “in order to serve mutual interests”.

The Turkish agriculture minister had also held a meeting with his fellow country businessmen working in Sudan on Tuesday and heard from them about their investment experiences.

Turkey has begun to take more interest in Africa and has hosted last year the Turkey-African Union Cooperation Summit which Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir attended.

Turkey has increasingly developed its commercial and military cooperation with Sudan.

In 2007 Sudanese and Turkish trade volume reached $225 million. Moreover, Turkish direct investments in Sudan have amounted to nearly 50 million USD (disregarding the Turkish firms operating in contracting and consulting), according to the Turkish foreign ministry website.

Sudan hopes to also secure Turkey’s support as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in the row over the arrest warrant issued by The Hague court against Bashir in connection with war crimes committed in Darfur.

Turkey has called for peaceful resolution of the Darfur conflict and in 2006 sent a field hospital to he conflict ridden region.

(ST)