Ghana – Turkey trade volume double

By Lawrence Quartey

Trade volume between Ghana and Turkey more than doubled to US$448 million in 2011 from US$175 million the previous year.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul hosted a Turkish trade fair in Ghana/Photo/Reuters

The volume is targeted to reach US1 billion by 2015 thanks to recent efforts by the two countries to strengthen economic and trade ties.

This came up on Wednesday when Kenan Tepedelen, the outgoing Turkish Ambassador to Ghana bade farewell to the country’s president, John Evans Atta Mills at the Castle (seat of Government) in Accra.

Tepedelen came to Ghana in May 2010.

Diplomatic relations between the two nations, which began after Ghana gained independence in 1957, saw a dip in 1991, when Turkey closed its embassy in the West African nation citing economic reasons.

However, both nations made efforts to renew and strengthen their ties, and Ankara re-opened its embassy in Accra, and followed it with the posting of a substantive ambassador.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Abdullah Gul has hosted a Turkish trade fair in Ghana and facilitated medical teams on visit to Ghana.

Gul and his Ghanaian counterpart signed bilateral agreements in the areas of Air Services, Health and Medical Sciences, Military Training and Science, mutual abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic passports and Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of consultations on political mechanism.

He visited Ghana last March, leading a 150-member delegation, made up of business people and investors, legislators and academicians on a three-day African tour.

Analysts say Turkey plans to double exports to Africa from the current $10 billion level by virtue of a new wave of diplomatic lobbying, which is expected to see that country strengthening its strategic partnerships on the African continent.

via Ghana – Turkey trade volume double [50178966] | African news, analysis and opinion – The Africa Report.com.