Zambia upbeat about Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - The Zambian commerce, trade and industry minister reached Turkey’s commercial and industrial hub Istanbul to attend the Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum that began on Thursday.

Chipoka Mulenga is joining dignitaries from 39 African countries at the two-day forum, an open space for public and private sector representatives from Turkey and Africa to address relations and look for ways to further deepen their partnership.

The event comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week paid official visits to Angola, Togo and Nigeria.

Speaking at the Istanbul Airport, Mulenga said the forum is timely and in line with his government's development agenda. "Our agenda is aimed at ensuring that citizens accrue maximum benefits from Zambia’s international engagements through promotion of trade and investment," Mulenga was quoted as saying in a statement by the Zambian embassy in Turkey.

The forum's theme is "Deepening Turkey-Africa partnership: Trade, investment, technology and logistics."

Mulenga is expected to attend a ministerial meeting co-chaired by Turkish Trade Minister Mehmet Mus and African Union Commissioner for Economic Development Albert Muchanga.

He will also hold a bilateral meeting with Mus, and participate in a series of engagements with potential Turkish investors, as well as panel discussions.​​​​​​​

The forum, which was first held in 2016 and then again in 2018, is organized in cooperation between Turkey’s Trade Ministry and the African Union.