Turkish Forum

Tag: the Economy and Trade Association for Neighboring Countries Council

  • Ghana – Turkey trade volume double

    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.

  • Four in Middle East to open free trade

    Four in Middle East to open free trade

    Davud Oglu Leads The WayNEW YORK, Sept. 27 (UPI) — Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey had agreed to move forward on a regional free-trade zone.

    Davutoglu told reporters in New York that a summit meeting in Istanbul would likely concluded with an announcement that the four-country trade agreement, including “visa-free” travel for the region, would begin in January.

    “We will declare at that summit that this economic zone is in effect,” Davutoglu said after meeting with foreign ministers of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon at U.N. Headquarters, Today’s Zaman reported.

    Turkey and Lebanon have already entered into a formal free-trade and visa-free arrangement with a deal signed this summer.

    But the deal may well be a first step towards a Middle East version of the European Union, Today’s Zaman reported.

    Turkey has been openly pursuing membership to the EU since 2005, but the application process has moved slowly.

    In New York, Davutoglu said, “The EU is of course a good model of cooperation and we can look into it. But this cooperation, after all, is a product of our history.”

    https://www.upi.com/Business_News/2010/09/27/Four-in-Middle-East-to-open-free-trade/UPI-79101285623196/, Sept. 27, 2010