Vice President Mr. Kalonzo Musyoka on Wednesday witnessed the signing of an agreement establishing the Africa Turkey Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which seeks to promote Turkish Investment and enhance trade in Africa.”We are not coming to Africa for raw materials and in search of a Supermarket, we are interested in lending our manufacturing expertise to Africa”, declared Mr. Riftat Hisarcikloglu Chairman of the Turkey Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Vice President was among several African leaders who were hosted for a business breakfast with the CEOs of 100 leading Turkey Companies and their country’s leader Mr. Abdullah Gul.
Mr. Rifat said Turkey was a struggling economy only 20 years ago but through a paradigm shift in economic management, it was able to pull itself out of poverty becoming the 15th largest economy in the world and the 5th biggest in Europe.
“We were closed economy but when we opened up and welcomed the world to Turkey, our economy boomed” he said.
Turkey goods are now consumed all over Europe and America, while Turkish contractors last year earned 20 billion from contracts on Sea Ports, Airport and Roads construction around the world.
“This is exciting for Kenya. For a long time we have been searching for investors who are able to add value for our raw materials by setting up manufacturing bases in Kenya”, said the VP
“With the signing of this agreement, we will be able to attract investment in agro-processing textile manufacturing, mining and energy (coal etc) and ICT” he added.
“Turkey has significant experience in a value addition Technologies in Agro-business, water and textile, as well as in mediation for large scale manufacturing, that is why we have gone in to this strategies partnership” he said.
The three day Turkey- Africa Cooperation Heads of State and Government concluded on Thursday with the adoption of the Istanbul Declaration establishing Partnership between Turkey and Africa on a wide range of issues.
Musyoka represented the country at the meeting held in Istanbul-Turkey.
The leaders resolved that Turkey, through Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA),(which already has offices in Senegal, Sudan and Ethiopia,) will open more offices in Africa to carry out some development projects.
The declaration also calls for the exchange of high level visits and regular inter-governmental dialogue.
On trade and investments, the summit pledged to create a favourable legal framework for doing business as well as protecting investments.
They also recognized and agreed to facilitate the private sector as a critical tool for economic growth.
Special focus will be directed towards the development of Agriculture, Agro-processing, manufacturing, water resources and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) as a means of wealth creation in Africa and Turkey.