Turkey has positive impact on African economy: envoy

By Yusuf Ozcan

PARIS (AA) - Rwanda's Ambassador to Paris said Turkey is among the four countries which have had a positive impact on African economies.

Turkey has become one of Africa's most important economic partners in the last 20 years, Jacques Kabale said, speaking at an event held at the Turkish Embassy in Paris.

He added that Turkey’s bilateral trade volume with Africa increased to reach $20 billion in 2018.

Ismail Hakki Musa, Turkey's ambassador to Paris; Akif Cagatay Kilic , the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's Istanbul deputy; Ambassador Erdem Basci, permanent representative of Turkey to the OECD; and many other business people attended the event.

Musa said Turkey wants to further enhance relations with Africa, adding that Turkey currently has more than 40 embassies in the continent.

Underlying the efforts by Turkish Airlines and state-run Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency, Musa said: “Turkey’s economic and trade relations with Africa have reached a significant size.”

In recent years, Turkey opened its policy toward Africa improving ties and increasing trade.

In the future, the number of Turkish embassies in Africa is expected to increase to 50.