'2018 landmark year for Turkey, S. Africa relations'

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - The Turkish ambassador to Pretoria told Anadolu Agency that 2018 has been a landmark year for relations with South Africa.

Elif Comoglu Ulgen said Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan honored an invitation by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to attend a summit of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India , China and South Africa) held in Johannesburg. This was despite a busy election in July.

Ulgen said this was one of Erdogan’s first foreign visits after the election which demonstrates positive bilateral relations between the two countries.

“During the visit he inaugurated the new Turkish embassy premises in Pretoria,” she said.

She hopes the $2.5 billion in bilateral trade with South Africa, will increase by next year following the successful bilateral discussions between Erdogan and Ramaphosa.

Several Turkish companies are also expected to visit South Africa this month for an investment conference.

The Turkish diplomat said there is also an increasing number of tourists traveling from South Africa to Turkey as a result of their positive relations.

“I am personally aware of a number of families, groups and businesspeople regularly paying visits to Turkey,” she told Anadolu Agency.

Ulgen said officials of national carrier Turkish Airlines had also told her that flights are always fully booked with travelers from both sides.

Ulgen further said Turkey’s Maarif foundation which was inaugurated in South Africa this year, will open its first school in the country in 2019 increasing its presence in Africa.

Turkey’s presence is felt across the continent where there are a number of Turkish organizations including Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Maarif Foundation and Yunus Emre Institute among others.

Under President Erdogan's leadership, Turkey has pursued a policy of an outreach to Africa based on the principle of win-win.

The Turkish government has donated millions of dollars for infrastructural development on the continent and sponsored hundreds of African students as part of the country’s cooperation with Africa.