Turkish aid agency in Colombia flooded with requests

By Lokman Ilhan

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Turkey's aid agency has received requests to carry out nearly 800 projects in Colombia, a top agency official told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday

"2017 will be a very productive year for us. About 800 projects have already been requested through our office" in the capital Bogata, said Birol Cetin, vice president of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency or TIKA.

Describing South America as a "difficult region" in some aspects, he added that TIKA will overcome these difficulties equipped with its extensive experience in Asia and Africa.

He also said the agency also visited Colombia’s deputy foreign minister, Patti Londono Jaramillo, and the head of the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC), Sergio Londono Zurek.

Cetin said during the meeting they expressed their desire to benefit from Turkey's experience with fishing and greenhouses as well as farming.

He added that the agency would also start work in the field of health in Colombia and other Latin American countries.

Cetin said a technical delegation would visit Chile to see areas affected by recent fires.

"In Chile we will carry out a health care center project, instructed by our president, in areas affected by fire and school areas," he said.

Established in 1992, TIKA is responsible for implementing Turkey's developmental cooperation policies overseas.