Turkey to establish logistics centers in African countries

Seeing a remarkable increase in bilateral trade with African countries, Turkey has ramped up efforts to expand commercial operations on the continent by establishing trade and logistics centers, Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said Monday.

Addressing a consultation meeting of African Business Councils under Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board (DE?K), Pekcan said: "We are founding trade centers in the destinations we have previously determined. But more importantly, we should establish logistics centers in several points in Africa. We have launched our operations accordingly."

Just around the corner, 2020 will be the year of Africa for Turkey, which is engaged in several trade efforts on the continent, the trade minister said.

Turkey enjoys free trade agreements (FTA) with five African countries, deals for reciprocal protection of investment with 30 countries, and agreements with 13 countries to prevent double taxation, the minister said.

Turkey has embassies in 42 countries and commercial counselors in 26 countries on the Africa continent. Turkey's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines also flies to 35 destinations on the continent.

Pekcan also said Turkish officials will pay visits to Morocco, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Mozambique to increase the number of agreements, she said.

Turkey signed FTAs with Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Mauritius, Pekcan noted, adding that deals with Sudan and Ghana are in the process of approval. "Our negotiations are ongoing with Somalia and Seychelles, while we will sign preferential trade agreements with Mozambique and Mauritania," she added.

Turkey will probably organize a Turkey-Africa partnership summit in April under the auspices of the Turkish Presidency, she indicated.

Turkey and African countries' bilateral trade rose $23.8 billion in 2018 from $5.5 billion in 2003, while Turkey's exports jumped by 579% to $14.4 billion in the same period, according to Pekcan.

But $14 billion in exports is too low of a figure for the large African continent, she said, urging Turkey to increase target-oriented efforts in Africa amid rising global protectionist policies.

In the period of January-November, Turkey's bilateral trade with the continent rose by 7.7% to reach $22.9 billion.

"When we unveiled our Export Master Plan, we chose five targeted sectors and 17 countries which included Ethiopia, Morocco, Kenya and South Africa," Pekcan noted.

The exponential increase in bilateral trade and the close political ties between Turkey and African countries have been facilitated by Turkey's Africa initiative.